Heavyweight review – locker room becomes pressure cooker in real-time boxing face-off

Christopher M Anthony’s drama about a self-destructive slugger features Jordan Bolger prepping to fight the champ – but distrustful of those around him

Typically, boxing films are all about the flashbulb-popping, rope-a-dope climactic confrontation capping them off. So here, debut director Christopher M Anthony proves himself a contender by coming up with a new take: a pugilism flick that charts, in real time, the behind-the-scenes buildup to the showdown. Jordan Bolger plays “Diamond” Derek Douglas, drafted in on a wildcard to fight the current champ. But his preparations are jolted when his camp learns that Derek’s former training partner Cain (Osy Ikhile) has thrown his lot – and his insider knowledge – in with the enemy.

The boxing-movie genre is hardly short on self-destructive sluggers, but Anthony cranks up this exploration of mental fragility by hemming Derek into the locker room for the film’s duration. He suspects stalwart trainer Adam (Nicholas Pinnock) of being in cahoots with Cain and begins compulsively dialling his brother, a former fighter who once blew his own big shot. Punching a mirror in frustration isn’t exactly the stuff winners are made of, forcing Adam to conceal Derek’s injured hand. But, with camera crews, celebrities and firebrand promoter Freddie (Jason Isaacs) hovering, the underdog has to make like it’s no big thing.