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Strength and Honor

Play trailer Poster for Strength and Honor R 2008 1h 31m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
6% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
While visiting his former boxing trainer Denis O'Leary (Richard Chamberlain), aging widower Sean Kelleher (Michael Madsen) hears about a bare-knuckle fight that could earn him the quarter million dollars he desperately needs to pay for a lifesaving operation for his ailing young son. But to win, Kelleher will have to break a promise to his late wife and risk his life in the ring against the bloodthirsty six-time champion, a wild-eyed fighter named Smasher O'Driscoll (Vinnie Jones).

Critics Reviews

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Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter 12/13/2007
Director-screenwriter Mark Mahon is unable to inject any freshness whatsoever into this highly formulaic genre piece, though he has elicited several good performances. Go to Full Review
Ronnie Scheib Variety 12/11/2007
The script delivers a series of low blows to the intelligence from which auds will never recover. Go to Full Review
V.A. Musetto New York Post 12/07/2007
1/4
Under Mark Mahon's by-the-numbers direction, Strength and Honour is a standard soaper that might be helpful to watch when you're suffering from insomnia some night. Go to Full Review
Martin Tsai New York Sun 04/21/2023
It’s as if novice writer-director Mark Mahon aspires to be the next Jim Sheridan, but winds up a poor man’s Terry George. Go to Full Review
Jules Brenner Cinema Signals 12/08/2007
1/5
Not even a contender for the DVD bins, to which it'll be banished before the eight count. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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01/31/2014 I love Michael but he gotta stop making crazy movies See more 03/08/2013 The characters announce what's going on in thick Oirish accents. "Ah jaysus the big foight's tomorrow Boss." Ah shur don't be talkin', isn't me son doiyin' o' cancers be the hokey begob zzzzzz. "Ah yer havin' a flashback then Boss." Genius. See more 10/31/2011 Desperately predictable, cheap, and condescending. So frustrating as the themes of the film could have led to a genuinely decent film (if written, directed and produced by completely different people). Only positives were the very short scene with the comic genius Pat Shortt, the passion of Fitzpatrick (despite impressively poor dialogue), and Madsen's quiet, dignified portrayal of the (lack of) character he was given to work with. See more 04/02/2011 A movie with heart and a good story about a dad and his young son and the dad having to do something he promised not to do after a freak accident however after his son becomes ill and goes to the Doc they find out that he needs a operation and the dad has to raise the money by bare knuckle fighting and the story revolves around that whole concept. Vinny Jones plays his role too a tee however Michael Madsen does play the concerned father and fighter well its just when he trys to have the accent of the English it does not work kinda off and on. It's like listening to broken English. A nice movie however it may not be for everyone. See more 11/16/2010 After half an hour,thought this was going to be one of the worst movies ever,but then seemed to pick up a bit,good to see Madsen back in a half descent movie and Vinnie Jones gives one of the most over the top performances ever as King of the Gypsies.Well worth a look See more 11/12/2010 Michael Madsen perform ok. Vinnie Jones on the other hand is a master in role of a mean bully. See more Read all reviews
Strength and Honor

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Movie Info

Synopsis While visiting his former boxing trainer Denis O'Leary (Richard Chamberlain), aging widower Sean Kelleher (Michael Madsen) hears about a bare-knuckle fight that could earn him the quarter million dollars he desperately needs to pay for a lifesaving operation for his ailing young son. But to win, Kelleher will have to break a promise to his late wife and risk his life in the ring against the bloodthirsty six-time champion, a wild-eyed fighter named Smasher O'Driscoll (Vinnie Jones).
Director
Mark Mahon
Producer
Mark Mahon
Screenwriter
Mark Mahon
Rating
R (Some Violence)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 31m