Plot: What’s it about?
Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) has a lot of potential, but she is so mired in various problems, she is unable to rise above her limitations. The temptation to fail is all around her, from her lower income home to her problems at school, but there’s something to Diana that makes her stand out. No, I don’t mean her powder keg of a temper or her bitterness or her complete lack of self control, but a well hidden drive and ambition. She seems to have the push to get into fights, argue with her abusive father, and fend off boys, but aside from those issues, she has minimal ambition to make herself better. But when she ends up in one fight too many, she finds herself with her back to the wall and if she gets into one more rumble, she’ll be kicked out of school for good. At the same time, her little brother has been learning how to box, at her father’s demands and that seems a little strange to her. Soon, Diana treks to the gym to run an errand and discovers a new world, one in which her toughness and temper could serve her well. Outside the gym she is a lost cause, but inside she is respected, which with some work, could change her outside life as well. But can Diana channel her new ambition into her life on the whole, or will she end up falling short of her potential?
I had heard a lot of praise for this film, but since it never played in my town, this disc was my first chance to view Girlfight for myself. I have to admit, I didn’t think the movie could live up to the reviews I’d read, but in the end, Girlfight was even better than I ever expected. This is an intense, powerful, emotional, and inspiring film and since it comes from a female perspective, it seems even more unique and likable. Yes, we’ve seen this kind of movie before, but this one offers a lot of new elements to keep it fresh and it turns out better than most of the previous film to tackle the premise. I know a few people who steered away from this, with the assumption that was aimed at females and while that is true to an extent, Girlfight is a movie I think everyone can appreciate. The strong female character is one we don’t see often enough and here, that character is flawed and likable, a perfect mixture for this kind of flick. I love how the events, characters, and environment are never watered down, the elements have flaws and they’re shown, which makes this seem very realistic. I simply cannot recommend this release highly enough, especially with such a nice treatment and as such, don’t hesitate to take a look at this disc as soon as you can.
This might have been her feature film debut, but Michelle Rodriguez gives one powerful turn here, one of the most powerful performance of 2000, if you ask me. I was very impressed with her work here, as this was her debut and she was given a very complex role, but she never stumbles and seems in control at all times. With such a bold character to play, I was concerned that Rodriguez would overact at times, but I never saw her do so, very impressive indeed. She is able to bring across the outbursts of anger and frustration, but she also delivers in the more subtle sequences, even the romance driven scenes are well done. I am very excited about Rodriguez and her potential, as I think she has a bright future in the movies ahead of her. Rodriguez can also be seen in The Fast and The Furious. The rest of the cast includes Santiago Douglas, Paul Calderon (Out of Sight, Four Rooms), Ray Santiago, Elisa Bocanegra, Alicia Ashley, Thomas Barbour (The Age of Innocence, Legal Eagles), and Jaime Tirelli (The Brother From Another Planet, Carlito’s Way).
Video: How does it look?
Girlfight is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition included on the disc’s flip side. This is a lower budget and as such, lacks the gloss of blockbuster flicks, but this presentation offers a solid looking visual treatment. There is some grain present at times, but never enough to burden the image much, so no real complaints. The colors look natural, but bright when needed, flesh tones seem normal and consistent, and the contrast is even handed and well defined. When you consider the nature of the film, I think we should be thankful to have such a clean, sharp transfer to view here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, but don’t expect a blockbuster dynamic presence, as this material just isn’t made for that kind of experience. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t an effective track, because it is, just don’t expect an overpowering mix to surface. The boxing scenes spark the surrounds a little, as does the musical soundtrack and I was pleased with how immersive the track was in the end. But this one is based around the dialogue, which comes across in rich, fine form and never falters. This disc also includes 2.0 surround tracks in French and English, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This isn’t a full fledged special edition, but it does contain a few nice supplements, which adds some value and enjoyment to the disc. The main draw here is an audio commentary track with director Karyn Kusama, who has a lot to discuss about the film and how it was made. Kusama is a talented speaker and never becomes dull to listen to, which makes this a good commentary track all around. A lot of information is packed into the running time and since Kusamo is so literate, it all flows from her with no problems in the least. This disc also houses a brief behind the scenes featurette, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
