Heavyweight
Christopher M. Anthony’s notably well-acted British boxing drama finds its main action outside the ring.
Jordan Bolger
Image courtesy of BUFF Studios.
by MANSEL STIMPSON
Although centred on the boxing world, the drama in Christopher M. Anthony's Heavyweight takes place not in the ring but in the dressing room. It is the day of a championship match in which a challenger, Derek Douglas (Jordan Bolger), is taking on the heavyweight holder of the title in what is the first such major match of his career. That makes him the underdog and Anthony's film plays out in the hour or more immediately before the bout begins. Derek is being looked after by his coach, Adam (Nicholas Pinnock), and his team and on such a crucial occasion it is understandable that there should be tension in the air. In this instance other factors also play a part too and not least because Derek discovers that another of Adam's boxers, Cain Ikande (Osy Ikhile), who had even been Derek's training partner, has suddenly gone over to supporting the title holder whom Derek is challenging.
Lasting some 98 minutes Heavyweight is one of those films which plays out in real time and indeed in a single setting. But, while much of the drama arises and plays out during this period and includes the panic that leads to Derek even wondering if he has enough confidence to enter the ring, what now emerges also relates to events in the past. Thus it is that the betrayal by Cain Ikande proves to have been motivated by jealousy and the belief that the coach had at Cain’s expense unfairly favoured Derek. Another concern that weighs on Derek is the absence of his older brother, Darius, who usually attends his fights but is either delayed or not coming. The importance of the sibling relationship comes more fully into focus when once again we learn about a past event which influenced both of their lives.
Although Christopher M. Anthony was born in Britain (he grew up in Bournemouth), he is of Nigerian and Lebanese stock and has demonstrated a range of talents, including professional work as a mixed martial artist. Within the film industry itself, he has been a visual effects supervisor, a stunt designer and a director of music videos but Heavyweight marks his feature debut as a writer/director and thus represents a major leap into a fresh region. His interest in boxing has obviously been helpful in enabling him to portray this world with a sense of authenticity and, while those who share that fascination with Anthony will be the prime audience for his film, there is no doubt but that Heavyweight can be counted a success.
By being centred on a boxer as he prepares for a big match and for whom the audience are invited to root, the actual storyline here is, of course, a familiar one. But the approach taken to it is not. Setting the film in the locker room and excluding flashback scenes means that this is a film which relies very much on talk rather than on actual action. Indeed, it would not be a huge stretch to feel that it could have been written with the stage in mind (one could even add that those elements found here that rely on revealing past history echo a feature central to many of Henrik Ibsen's greatest works!). But the fact is that Anthony achieves an astute balance. While he recognises the need for the dialogue to be effective in view of the weight that it carries, he also relies on finding visuals that in themselves add to the power of the piece. Although Heavyweight is shot in wide screen, Anthony makes a point of featuring close-up shots of faces, a device which encourages us to identify with Derek and Adam in particular. There are, of course, other shots to provide variety, but this emphasis is one that serves the film well and it brings out just how successful Jordan Bolger and Nicholas Pinnock are in their portrayals.
The two leads may be said to carry the film but Osy Ikhile provides admirable support and the other background figures are all convincingly realised. In addition, there are two notable cameo performances. One of these is by Jason Isaacs who briefly erupts into the film playing the promoter. He is a figure who represents the heartless side of the game, someone in it for profit who is quite lacking in any moral scruples. Less clear-cut in terms of how we should react but adding to the power of the film are scenes relating to an injury to Derek's hand which could lead to the fight being cancelled. Here we may well sympathise with the attempt to conceal what has happened yet also question the wisdom and appropriateness of continuing. This issue brings in the other notable cameo, that by Sienna Guillory as a doctor who has to weigh up the situation, the pros and the cons, in giving her verdict.
The scene with the doctor is not only well played but well written too. Elsewhere – and especially towards the end – the dialogue does on occasion come close to cliché just as the music score by Andy Burrows while not ineffective takes the conventional route by seeking to build up tension by emphasising the percussion. But, even if a few doubts arise, Heavyweight is nevertheless not only a good calling card for Christopher M. Anthony as writer and director but a film containing impressive performances in roles both large and small.
Cast: Jordan Bolger, Nicholas Pinnock, Osy Ikhile, Jason Isaacs, Sienna Guillory, Jamie Bamber, Rob Malone, Joplin Sibtain, Nabil Eloushabi, Blake Harrison, Barry Aird, Orlando Norman, Adrian Lukis.
Dir Christopher M. Anthony, Pro Tiernan Hanby, Kevin Harvey, Nicholas Pinnock, Oliver Slinger, Simon Marriott and Antoine Dixon-Bellot, Screenplay Christopher M. Anthony, Ph Chris Appeti, Pro Des Aimee Meek, Ed Eve Doherty, Music Andy Burrows, Costumes Lauren Miller.
Blackwater Pictures/Silver Milk Production/Lipsync/Richmond Pictures-BUFF Studios.
98 mins. UK. 2025. UK Rel: 23 January 2026. Cert. 15.
