“The Champ” resurrects great filmmaking and acting. “Resurrecting the Champ”: A+ Based on the true story of sports writer and struggling father Erik Kernan, “Resurrecting the Champ” is a poignant and powerful masterpiece from the fabulous director Rod Lurie. The story’s morals are a mix of integrity in journalism, fighting for what’s right, and being a better parent. As Kernan struggles to write great sports stories for the Denver Times, his son Teddy (Dakota Goyo) still thinks he’s the greatest dad. He imagines that his dad is friends with every sports star there ever was, but that’s not really the case. Kernan’s luck changes when he becomes involved with boxing legend Battlin’ Bob Satterfield and his story, which has now taken to the streets of Denver, Colorado. Samuel L. Jackson’s performance is drop-dead powerful and charges the happy-and sad-parts of the story. His story is one of a young boxer training and learning the tricks of the trade, and ultimately becoming the number 3 boxer in the world. One brutal fight and one bad radio review spoken by Kernan’s deceased father changed all that. He was washed up in months. Although his records say he’s dead, Satterfield continues to empower the sports side of the film with intense flashbacks to previous fights. Kernan starts to wonder whether the fighter’s records are correct. When Jackson’s character is revealed to be Tommy Kinkade, one of the boxers he fought, Teddy is heartbroken because kids at his school accuse his father of “making up” the article he wrote on Satterfield, now revealed to be Kinkade. Kernan and his newspaper are almost sued by Satterfield’s real son, which forms a mutual dislike between Kernan and Kinkade. But the pair eventually apologizes for lying to each other and moves on. Before the story starts, Kinkade had been saying he was Satterfield for years. But Satterfield really was dead. Kernan writes an apologetic article that pulls it all together in the end. He also makes amends with his son, which is one of the greatest scenes in the film. All in all, the story is about Kernan learning to be a great writer and a great father, but it is also about “The Champ” realizing who he really is. Hartnett and Jackson both have fantastic acting skills. They will cry, which will tug at your heartstrings, they will fight, which will twist their friendship and suddenly shock you, and they will disappear into their roles of two completely different people who both want to know that they have the integrity to do what’s right, even if it removes their stardom. Like everyone’s saying, the duo gives a ‘knockout performance’. Rod Lurie has had great success in films before with fantastic movies like “The Contender” and “The Last Castle”, but this is by far his best work. The shaky cinematography (by Adam Kane,) while you think it would hurt, actually helps because it adds to the state of confusion the characters are in at some points. The screenplay, penned by Michael Bortman and Allison Burnett, treats the story with style and adds careful attention to the story’s finer details. It leaves no issue untouched, and I think it is the main reason I enjoyed the movie so much. Because it was all-inclusive of every aspect and left no page unturned, the movie felt much more complete. The dark but sometimes uplifting score composed by Larry Groupe is touching and adds warmth and subtle joy to the film and its powerful message. That message is: Whatever you do in life, have the integrity to do it for the right reasons. “Resurrecting the Champ” is rated PG-13 for some violence and brief language. Running time: 1 hr. 53 min. In this reviewer’s humble opinion, Josh Hartnett and Samuel L. Jackson should both be nominated for Oscars for their work in “Resurrecting the Champ” -Stellar Kart and PIXAR fan!