Risen : The Howard Winstone Story

by **Union Cane** Tue 10 Apr 2012, 4:12 pm

Managed to finally watch this film over the Easter weekend.

For those who don't know the story of the 'Welsh Wizard' Howard Winstone I won't go into too much detail, but the film follows the career of the promising amateur who suffered a terrible hand injury but overcame the odds to eventually claim the world featherweight title.

Stuart Brennan plays Winstone, and it is hard to believe he had never laced up a pair of gloves before this film as he really looks the part, some of the boxing scenes are incredibly realistic (they actually hit each other, unlike some boxing films), in fact I'd say they are some of the best boxing scenes ever seen in a film, although that is another thread entirely.

There's an excellent performance from Enzo Maccarinelli, and a slightly out-of-shape Erik Morales plays Mexican legend Vicente Saldivar.

For those who have avoided the film due to Shane Richie being in it, his role is minimal and doesn't detract from the film at all.

Highlights for me were Morales' moustache, and the most wooden cameo in the history of filmed entertainment from Richie Woodhall.