Although the historical ramifications of the famous rivalry between boxers Joe Louis-Max Schmeling rivalry have been chronicled before, HOOP DREAMS director Steve James uses their story to examine the dark side of boxing and peek under the rock of Nazism. In 1936, on the eve of WWII, American boxer Joe Louis (Leonard Roberts) — the Brown Bomber — is poised to become world champion. But German pugilist Max Schmeling (Til Schweiger), beaten by Louis in an earlier fight, begs the Yankee boxing commission for a rematch. Behind the scenes, Louis's manager, Mike Jacobs (Bruce Weitz), offers scheduled opponent Jersey Joe Walcott (Anthony Russel) a cut of Louis's f...
Released:
2002
Rated:
PG-13
Length:
113 mins