From the streets of Panamá to legendary status as one of the all-time greatest boxers, the life of boxer Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran is now the subject of a biopic on an epic scale.
From the outset, the film plunges into the world of boxing with intensity. Inside Madison Square Garden in New York, during a 66-second fight, Roberto Duran, portrayed by Venezuelan actor Edgar Ramirez (“Libertador,” “Carlos,” “Joy”), knocks out his opponent.
Robert De Niro plays the well-known trainer Ray Arcel, who fondly recalls his first meeting with Duran.
Arcel will never forget Duran’s punching power.
In the locker room, Ruben Blades (“The Maldonado Miracle” and “The Milagro Beanfield War”) portrays Duran’s ambitious manager, Carlos Eleta.
Carlos emphasizes the bond between the boxer and the controversial American trainer. After each fight, Duran likes to eat lots of ice cream to boost his confidence.
To learn the ropes and become a world champion, Duran needs to tone down his anti-American rhetoric and start working with his new American trainer. He must focus on the fundamentals. They had to relocate to Panama for training because Arcel was banned from coaching in the US. If Duran wants to succeed, he must perfect his technique under the world’s best trainer. “Boxing is a mental game. Prison is a mental state.”
The main difference between Mexican and Panamanian boxers is that Panamanian boxers are often trained to salsa music, which helps refine their movements and shape their fighting styles. For Panamanians, every Duran fight against an American opponent became a political showdown.
The differences between these two countries are clearly shown in the film. Duran represented hope for his people. The same people who suffered under American colonialism saw each of Duran’s championships as a chance to build strength and resilience.
Roberto Duran, alongside Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, and Julio Cesar Chavez, is considered one of the greatest boxers in history. Director Jonathan Jakubowicz (“Secuestro Express”) spent seven years bringing his vision to the big screen. The Venezuelan filmmaker wanted to tell the story of a Latino hero but had to wait for all the pieces to fall into place.
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| Director Jonathan Jakubowicz, photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, Copyrights @ Festival in LA 2016 |
As an outsider, the director was able to objectively portray the political turmoil and the conflict with the USA over ownership of the Panama Canal.
Filmmakers shot every fight with different lenses to recreate the authentic atmosphere of each period, making the film more believable.
In “Hands of Stone,” the actors nailed their characters.
Edgar Ramirez, playing Duran, is outstanding. He trained for nine months before fully immersing himself in the role and beginning the physical transformation needed to match the real-world champion’s level.
This is Robert De Niro’s best performance in years.
Celebrity star and well-known singer “Usher” Raymond IV, who has appeared in other impressive movies such as “The Faculty,” “In the Mix,” and “Light It Up,” is natural, charismatic, and exceptional. He portrayed the remarkable American champion Sugar Ray Leonard with remarkable conviction.
The film’s hyper-realism diminishes the symbolism, as we never learn the origin of the nickname “Hands of Stone.”
In “Hands of Stone,” the transitions move seamlessly from the drama of the fights to the poverty of its people and the parallels with social and political conflict, then shift back to the humanity of the charismatic Latino hero, Duran.
The famous “No Más Fight” took place on November 25, 1980, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, featuring Ray Leonard.
The outstanding performances compensate for the unbalanced, poorly structured script, a flaw that weakens much of the champion’s journey.
De Niro’s narration dominates the film, and we see too much of his character. Two compelling storylines compete with each other. For example, we did not need to know anything about Arcel’s unnatural junkie daughter because that doesn’t add anything to Duran’s story.
“Hands of Stone” is not a character-driven story; it’s more of an ensemble-cast plot, with other equally essential characters alongside the champion.
In 2013, Lee Daniels’ The Butler tells two compelling stories: one follows the life of the Butler inside and outside the White House, and the other follows his son, an anarchist member of the Freedom Riders fighting for Civil Rights in America. The title is not “The Butler & Son.” In Duran’s movie, the title is not “Hand of Stone & Ray Arcel.”
“Hands of Stone” is entertaining, likable, and exciting, but its delivery is confusing and unconvincing.
The significance of Duran’s movie lies in its portrayal of a real Latino hero, which seems almost impossible given the scarcity of positive Latino representation in Hollywood.
“Hands of Stone” is an inspiring film about the life, journey, and legacy of one of the greatest boxers in history, as seen by the Panamanian people and the world. It is worth watching.
