Production Company: Yari Film Group
Director: Rod Lurie
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Harnett, Kathryn Morris, Alan Alda, Rachel Nichols, David Paymer, Teri Hatcher
Rating: PG-13 (for some violence and brief language)

By Gregg Tubbs

(UMC.org)—As a Christian film critic, I'm bound to take notice of any movie with the word resurrection in its title. I imagined a tale of redemption—a life raised up, hope restored. Resurrecting the Champ delivers a sympathetic, but never sentimental, human drama about an up-and-coming sportswriter and a down, but not quite out, boxer whose lives intersect and are changed forever. But Resurrecting the Champ is full of surprises, taking us places and revealing things we didn’t expect. The film asks us to decide who has resurrected whom and deeply probes the reasons why we lie and if the truth really can set you free.

Based on a true story, Resurrecting the Champ wrestles with the question of whether telling a lie—even out of love—is ever right, particularly when it causes serious consequences. Josh Hartnett plays a young sportswriter, Erik Kernan, whose career has stalled. His early promise has waned, and he has instead become a word-churning machine, cranking out efficient, but uninspired, back page filler. He’s doing "a lot of typing but not much writing," according to his acerbic editor Metz (Alan Alda). Worse yet, he’s tried to impress his young son by telling him exaggerated yarns about being friends with famous athletes.

Resurrecting the Champ delivers a sympathetic, but never sentimental, human drama about an up-and-coming sportswriter and a down, but not quite out, boxer whose lives intersect and are changed forever.
Copyright © 2007 Yari Film Group.

One night, Erik sees a gang of youths roughing up an old, homeless man (Samuel L. Jackson). Like so many of us, Erik begins to hurry away. Trouble is that last thing he wants, and certainly not over a "bum." But something about the old man catches his eye. He moves like a boxer—though bent by age and booze—but is still light on his feet and able to throw a punch. Intrigued, Erik breaks up the fight and soon discovers that the homeless man locals call "The Champ" was once the heavyweight contender, "Battling Bob Satterfield." Even though Satterfield is rumored to be long dead, Erik smells a story—one that could resurrect his writing career. More out of ambition than compassion, he befriends the Champ, and "Battling Bob" is eager to please, with juicy tales of sparring with Rocky Marciano and barnstorming across the Midwest throughout the 1950s.

Erik’s resulting article about how a promising boxer ends up on the street is a smash. The article is featured on the cover of a prestigious Sunday magazine, but the story begins to unravel almost immediately. Is Satterfield really dead? Has Erik compromised his ethics to write a story he should have suspected as false? Should he still cover it up? What will his son think? Would the Champ lie to him, and if so, why?

The question of why we lie is not only the crux of the story, but also the key to each character’s resurrection. For the Champ and Erik, the answer lies in the complex relationship between fathers and sons. Both he and Champ failed to earn the approval of their own fathers and have, in turn, told lies to gain the respect of the sons they in turn have failed. Each man must confront his lies and begin to deal honestly with who he is and what he has actually achieved. With such honest self-examination comes true redemption and the knowledge that success based on a lie is not success, and that lies told in love—even to impress a son—are still lies.

Both Erik (Josh Harnett) and Champ (Samuel L. Jackson) failed to earn the approval of their own fathers and have, in turn, told lies to gain the respect of their own sons.
Copyright © 2007 Yari Film Group.

Resurrecting the Champ is particularly rewarding because it deals honestly with the idea of truth itself. Coming clean, though the right thing to do, may in fact have negative consequences. Rather than earning understanding or respect, the admission that you have lied to impress a loved one could initially diminish his or her respect for you. But what respect they do have will at least be authentic and earned. And though such honesty may not bring monetary success or public praise, it does bring peace of mind.

Adding to the film’s emotional wallop is Jackson’s uncanny performance, which may well win him an Oscar nomination. Jackson often glides through films on the sheer power of his commanding presence alone. But here he all but buries his powerful screen presence in a performance that strips away everything but the basic human dignity of this man who is "not a bum, just homeless." Down, but not yet out, the Champ’s retains his dignity through his independence, his lack of self pity and his willingness to own up to his own life choices. It’s a performance that reminds us that life is about second and third chances, and since God never gives up on us, we should never give up on ourselves.

Study Questions

At the beginning of the film, Erik says "Writers and boxers are alike because in the end they both have to stand alone in the ring—and the truth comes out." What did he mean? Do we all have to stand alone and face the truth of our lives?
Is complete honesty in all things what God expects from us? In all things or just some?
Discuss whether good ever comes from lying. Are the short term gains worth the long term consequences?
"Harder than the son earning the respect of the father is the father keeping the respect of the son," Erik says. What did he mean? Do you agree?
Have you ever lied to impress someone? What was the result?
The need to gain or retain respect or self esteem is a major theme of the film. What qualities do you see in the people you respect the most?
Do you think the film should have confronted the issue of homelessness more directly?
Who resurrected whom? How did Erik change the Champ? How was Erik changed?
Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). How can you apply this to the film?
Was the Champ’s end sad or uplifting to you? Do you think he was redeemed? Does this fit your definition of redemption?