Girlfight (2000)

Diana Guzman is an angry young woman. Surviving an unrelenting series of disappointments and traumas, she takes her anger out on the closest targets.When she sees violence transformed and focused by discipline in a rundown boxing club, she knows she's found her home. The film progresses from there, as Diana learns the usual coming-of-age lessons alongside the skills needed for successful boxing. Michelle Rodriguez is very good in the role, particularly when conveying the focused rage of a young woman hemmed in on all sides and fighting against not just personal circumstances but entrenched sexism.The picture could use some finesse in its direction of all the young actors, who pale in comparison to the older, more experienced cast. There are too many pauses in the script, which detracts from the dramatic tension. The overall quietness of the film drains it of intensity. This is a good picture to see once, if only to see the power of a fully realized young woman whose femininity is complex enough to include her power. Its limitations prevent it from being placed in the "see it again and again" category.

When "Girlfight" came out, the reviews praised it, but I didn't get around to seeing it. I finally saw it when it got released on video, and understand the glowing reviews.The movie opens in a high school in the middle of a ghetto. We quickly get introduced to student Diana Guzman (Michelle Rodriguez). She has a bad-ass expression on her face, and any idea about Diana that we might derive from this expression soon gets corroborated when she gets in a fight. As Diana gets in trouble for this, we then meet her father, an aggressive type in his own right; clearly we can't totally blame Diana for her attitude.But then the movie really picks up, as a new thought germinates in Diana's mind: boxing as a way to escape this grim existence. Her older brother has already gotten into boxing, but her father most likely won't approve. Only Diana herself can decide what to do.Just the first few minutes alone identified that I was in for a very gritty, non-Hollywood movie, but the brief appearance of John Sayles in a supporting role truly affirmed that. Even before they get to any boxing scenes, you feel like you're getting pounded in the face at seeing the ugly life that Diana lives. And when they finally arrive at the film's main story, there's no turning back.All in all, I definitely recommend this movie. I will admit that using boxing as a means to show someone trying to make something of himself/herself has been sort of a cliché in cinema for many years ("Rocky", "Million Dollar Baby"), but I still think that they did a great job with it here. In fact, this may have brought the genre to its apex. Really good. Too bad that Michelle Rodriguez wasted herself in Hollywood movies after this one.

I really enjoyed Girl Fight. It something I could watch over and over again. The acting was Fantastic and i thought Michelle Rodriguez did a good job in the film. Very convincing might I say. The movie is showing how women should stand up for what they want to do in life. She had so much compassion and yet so much hate at the same time. Dealing with a ignorant dad didn't really help her much. Even though he loved her he was really hateful. Her mother died when she was younger and that also put some sadness in the role. The love story was a part that i really enjoyed in the movie also. I felt the passion the y had for one another. Then again drama sets in and then its like she is choosing between her boyfriend and her life long dream. I thought it ended just right. It was the kind of ending where you have to decide what happened in the future for them.For all you people who likes a movie based on a sport with a good plot i 'd suggest that you check this one out

I remember seeing the title several years back and dismissed it as feminist nonsense, but am glad to confess that my initial assessment was mistaken. Rodriguez puts in a solid performance as a tom-boy with anger problems. The movie uses numerous clichés that mark boxing movies - dysfunctional family, dingy gym, grizzled boxing coach and old-timers, kids trying to pull themselves out of the gutter through a potential career in boxing. But they are used well to provide a good thematic structure.I can't state with any conviction whether the Rodriguez character would've won the final ring-fight with her boyfriend as she did, simply because of the weight and level of training differences, but even so every fight scene (especially the one with her fighting another female contender) was solid and believable, not full of the the melodrama witnessed in the Rocky series.Being a kickboxer myself, I found this movie inspiring and an honest glimpse into a little of the boxing world. It is peopled with gritty, yet honest characters and shows snatches of insight into the reality of boxing - namely, power and dexterity are nothing without the endurance and stamina to match. The shadow-boxing was genuine and heartfelt. Anybody with a contact-sport background identifies with the scenes where she spars with opponents struggling with their own inner demons.The romantic subplot is slightly unrealistic. Even so, the final fight, where they both grapple each other shows a curious mixture of toughness and tenderness. Perhaps a little far-fetched, but it was an interesting juxtaposition.A likable movie, probably marred at the time by all the hyped feminist-trappings rather than allowing the movie to stand on its own merits.