Rigged

Going in, you have to realize that this is a Freshman effort.

The is the only full length film for director, producer, and editor Jonathan Dillon.

It is the first film for writer Ian Shorr, and it is the only film for the star Rebecca Neuenswander (a fighter in real life).

Chad Ortis, who plays the con man who finds Katherine (Neuenswander), has only an episode of The Bold and the Beautiful under his belt.

A bunch of inexperienced actors in a low budget film doesn't always spell disaster. Despite the fact that the movie is filled with clichés, it keeps your interest, even though you know you will guess the ending.

There are several things to like about this movie, but I will place the bulk of my praise where it belongs: Rebecca Neuenswander. Without her, I doubt the movie would have been nearly as good. I read that Rebecca is a martial artist, and I believe it. You see in the movie that she is athletic; she moves like a fighter. Not only that, she is a fine actress as well. Exactly the qualities needed for the role of Katherine (and hence the movie). If Rebecca wants it, she has a career waiting for her as an action star.

This is an enjoyable picture, much more than I expected going in. The fight scenes are good, only slightly uneven in places. Story, character development, fine acting, they are all there. For a low-budget film trying to do something a little different, I think it turned out well. Definitely worth seeing.

Bad acting, tight fighting scenes, hot brutal lesbian, fake Tom Cruise. What more could you want in a cheap boxing movie?

I sat here at work just now and watched this on Netflix. It doesn't throw any curve balls, but then it isn't a baseball movie.

So, what, right hook? There's some stuttering redneck who can't shoot, a big bearded bald guy who's shaped like a T, and a lot of burnt-sienna makeup to lay out those deep, dark bruises.

There's some slapped-together depth to these characters that's kind of haphazard because I don't see these characters really talking about themselves much. But, really, the style to me is very cultish. If it were less bloody, I suspect a lot of giggling fabulistas would flock to it at midnight with tape around their knuckles.

I dig. It's bad. But I dig.

The story line of this film is about underground boxing. Rebecca Neuenswander acts as a Katherine Parker, a young but promising fighter. Another key character is Michael Dublin (Chad Ortis), a young but experienced promoter. Not a hard guess that this couple has to get through this film in some interesting way.

All right, let me tell you what you won't see in this low budget project. There are no outstanding special effects, no expensive decorations, no catching breath stunts. At the same time, keep in mind that this film isn't just about fights for money, though Rebecca has done an excellent action job while standing against and knocking out numerous tough guys (a matter of taste and fighting experience whether you buy this or not, but I wouldn't say it's impossible totally). First of all, this film is about real life, real relationships and that bitter feeling when you've got nothing to lose, really nothing...

Though the film is currently known as Fight Night, I definitely prefer the original title, Rigged. And while Rigged has many problems -- mostly in the storyline and a lot of the secondary acting -- it is well worth watching just to see Rebecca Neuenswander. She is a find. Not only is she gorgeous, and not only is she a terrific actress, with expressive eyes that light up the screen, but she can fight. I have always been a stickler about sports being portrayed authentically on the screen, and I was happily surprised by Rebecca's fighting skills.

Rigged won't blow you away, and it may not last in your memory too long, but I don't think I'll forget about Rebecca Neuenswander for quite for some time. I am sad that Rigged is apparently her only film, but maybe she'll do more in the future. A director would be lucky to get her.