Price of Glory

Rating: Fair

Distributor: New Line Cinema
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 18 minutes
Release Date: March 31st, 2000
Director: Carlos Avila
Cast: Jimmy Smits, Jon Seda, Clifton Gonzalez, Ernesto Hernandez, and Maria del Mar.

Plot: Arturo (Jimmy Smits) is an in your face x-boxing father who wants his children to follow his lead. However, at the price of making them champion quality he alienates his two older and kinder sons and creates a hateful third son. Although Arturo has his pleasant moments they are not nearly enough, as he watches his plan of managing all his boys to victory tumble on himself as he looses control of his family. His third son meets a terrible destiny, while his older sons struggle to make their father listen to sense.

        Critique: It's too bad Phil Berger who wrote the screenplay did not have his heart in making Price of Glory a good film. The reason being the actors sure had their hearts in it, and led by Jimmy Smity they made some very impressive performances. Clifton Gonzalez is quite good in his portrayal of a worried young man, who has been through more than he deserves. Everyone producing this film was under the impression this was going to be a lower grade, made for TV quality project. It did not turn out that bad, and at times came close to being a good film, but it failed by the end of the film. The ending ruined all the build up, and the message the movie was supposedly trying to get out. The "Price of Glory," is apparently a story about a man learning that the price of glory is the effect it has on your personal life, and for that matter you as a person. However, the ending is a little too happy for such a cynical, although often true message.
        Alas, I understand this was partly a vehicle for Jimmy Smits to explode into stardom by shining in what appears to be a role he is comfortable with. Although that is not the best reason to make a film, that doesn't excuse the fact it seemed people high up half-assed it. In terms of cinematography, score, and technical stature I do not believe the film was successful, again probably due to its lack of ambitions.
       In conlcusions it seems the actors in this film gave it there all and succeeded. The problem however was the lack of any goal or ambition in the writing, producing and technical departments.

                                 review by supernothingman