Fantastic boxing flicks

Though there are great movies about all varieties of sporting endeavours, few have attraced as much attention from Hollywood as boxing.

There are many reasons for this. It's the essence of human combat, which brings with it all the elements of triumph and tragedy. It's also, conveniently enough for Hollywood, easily the most corrupt of the mainstream sports.

So, in honor of "Rocky Balboa," which I have to admit I'm predisposed to just give in and fall in love with, here's a list of some of my favorite boxing flicks (excluding the "Rocky" franchise, just to be ornery.) As always, please feel free to sound off with any I may have forgotten.

Raging Bull
Granted, an obvious choice, but for me and many other people this one will always top the list. Featuring a searing performance from Robert De Niro as Jake La Motta, the reason its vintage Scorsese is not just that it explodes with violence and obscenity, but because every ring success of LaMotta's life is paralleled by real-life failure, which Scorsese never shies away from.

The Boxer
Daniel Day Lewis reunited with Jim Sheridan and Terry George for one more movie about "the troubles," this time playing boxer Danny Flynn, who is let out of jail after serving time for actions in his past with the IRA. "Some Mother's Son" remains my favorite in their series of Northern Ireland flicks, but "The Boxer" is also notable for showing that peace is often just as messy as war.

The Hurricane
It pained me to watch Denzel win an Oscar for "Training Day," not because he didn't deserve it, but because it should have come for his multi-layered portrayal of Ruben "Hurricane" Carter in this flick. For a more straightforward and campy prison boxing flick, you also can't go wrong with Walter Hill's "Undisputed," starring Wesley Snipes and Ving Rhames.

Pulp Fiction
OK, here we cross over into movies that simply feature boxers, but this is my list, right? You can debate if this one was ever as revolutionary as it was made out to be, but for me at least, you can't deny its value for sheer entertainment.

When We Were Kings
The joys in this Leon Gast documentary about the 1974 match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire are almost too many to list. From Foreman and his huge dogs to the crowds mobbing Ali with adoration to James Brown preparing for his show that went with the match, it's just a feast for the senses.

Out of Sight
I just watched this again the other day, and it remains my favorite Elmore Leonard adaptation. Clooney and Lopez might steam up the scream, but Don Cheadle's prison boxer "Snoopy" Miller and Steve Zahn's Glen Michaels are both just a hoot.

Requiem for a Heavyweight
Few movies have done a better job of showing the seedy and sad side of boxing than this 1962 flick, written by Rod Serling. Anthony Quinn is the clumsy, proud "Mountain" Rivera, forced to retire after a life of beatings, trying to find a new job with no skills. His manager, Maish Rennick (Jackie Gleason), is devastated, too: He had bet against his own fighter and owes money to gangsters. With thugs threatening his life, Rennick sabotages Rivera's dream of working in a summer camp and signs him up to dress as an Indian chief in humiliating wrestling matches. By the time you reach the end of this one, it's guaranteed to break your heart.

The Set-Up
This film noir classic tells the story of Stoker Thompson (Robert Ryan), a fading fighter who doesn't realize he's supposed to throw a fight. When he discovers his fate but refuses to comply, doublecrossing his doublecrossers, it's pure noir gold.

Girlfight
I had never heard of Michelle Rodriguez until I saw her play Diana Guzman in this simply fantastic boxing flick. Along with her powerful performance as a sarcastic, angry 15-year-old with a penchant for pugilism, you get a flick that truly captures the reality and rhythm of a boxing gym.

On the Waterfront
When you set aside all the politics surrounding this one, you still get a very compelling flick. And though the only fighting comes down on the docks, Marlon Brando's Terry Malloy and his plea that he "coulda been a contender" will last forever.

Flirting
Call this one a bonus pick. It really has nothing to do with boxing until late in the movie when poor Noah Taylor climbs into the ring to get pummeled and prove his manhood to young Thandie Newton. Along with the two of them, you get Nicole Kidman and, I believe, Naomi Watts in this Aussie flick about coming of age and, of course, flirting. Just watch it.

And there you have it. Feel free to let me know of any I overlooked, and have a great day.