THE POWER OF ONEĀ (15)
D: John G. Avildsen
Warner Bros. (Arnon Milchan)
US 1992
127 mins
Drama/Sports
W: Robert Mark Kamen [based on the novel by Bryce
Courtenay]
DP: Dean Semler
Ed: John G. Avildsen
Mus: Hans Zimmer & Lebo M
Stephen Dorff (P.K.), John Gielgud (St. John), Armin
Mueller-Stahl (Doc), Morgan Freeman (Geel Piet), Guy Witcher (P.K. - age 7); Simon Fenton (P.K. - age 12); Daniel Craig (Sgt. Jaapie Botha)
In 1930's South Africa, a young boy witnesses the
brutality of apartheid and is taught boxing by a black prisoner.
Putting a political spin on the Rocky formula, The Power
Of One has its thought-provoking moments, but is tackled in a rather safe way by director John G. Avildsen, who seems to have lost his touch with his return to more serious material following
some poor directorial choices.
Generally entertaining and powerful, but this could have
been an awful lot better and far more memorable.
6/10