Customer Reviews

Broken Noses [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Boxing as aestethics is unquestionably high value entertainment. Broken Noses is violent and graphic, as well as embarrassing and painstakingly honest in this no-holds-barred documentary of prizefighter Andy Minskner. The cool jazz-music of Chet Baker balances the hot tempered rage in the ring, making the experience of Weber's film both appalling and appealing at the same time. You definitely don't have to be a boxing fan to enjoy this (and most fight fans probably won't, because of the undisputable homoeroticism through the lens of Weber, perhaps understood as a weak perception of a hard game), and the bluntness of it's main character who frankly relieves his unhappy childhood with a violent stepfather. This may be Broken Noses' most touching moment.

This is a film about a young boxing champ who, for reasons one discovers as the film progresses, did not make the 'big-time'. In compensation, he has taken under his wing a group of young boys to teach them his art, and philosophy of life. He coaches them, runs them, and is in their corner for their bouts. He comforts them as they take their first punches, which really do hurt. Like all of Bruce Weber's work, there is an underlying hint of eroticism which may spice the film nicely for those inclined to perceive it. Andy Minsker, the boxer, is roughly handsome (Mr. Weber admires Chet Baker), with a broken nose and a sleek young body which he loves to show off. Andy has an infectious laugh, discusses girls with his young charges, teasingthem and encouraging them. His work is something of an antidote for the lack of support in his own youth. His father was also a boxer who didn't make it. Andy looked to him for guidance and support which wasn't there. They have a reconciliation of sorts on screen, and one can see Andy wants that. With its beautiful, battered protagonist and his stable of would-be stallions, this film is sweet, likeable, touching, and erotic. A minor gem, and Bruce Weber at his best.

As a fan of Bruce Weber and someone familiar with his shots of boxer, Andy Minsker, I finally purchased 'Broken Noses'. It is very Bruce Weber for those of you familiar with the photographer. The film shows Andy and follows him around his small Oregon home town as he plays coach and friend to his young group of boxers in training. Bruce shows all sides to Andy's life, even attending a family get together where he interviews different family members about Andy. The film is about a 50/50 mix of black and white and color, and intertwined is a great music score that is also very much Bruce Weber. If my memory serves me correctly, I do beleive that Bruce won some International film awards for this film.

I just watched this. There is some interesting stuff in it but at times it was downright creepy. Whoever made this doc is a flaming homosexual with strong pedophilic leanings. Nobody that watches it will disagree with me on this I have a feeling. Probably the worst is there is a scene where Minsker is laying there shirtless with several shirtless young boys laying all around him while he is talking about having sex. There is lots more along those lines in this. Broken Noses is like legal child porn at times. I don't think Minsker is a pedophile or even gay but he isn't exactly the brightest lightbulb in the box either. I think the people that made this doc took advantage of his sense of vanity and he was unwittingly manipulated into being in a film like this. I give it two stars only because of the good content about Minsker, his life and boxing career but there is stuff in this that borders on child porn which creeped me out and disgusted me. I'm not a sexual prude or an overly judgemental person but leave the kids alone for gods sake.

Perhaps one should never review a movie one knows anything about but I think the other reviewers may have gotten it a bit off when they mentioned erroticism. Its a movie about a realy good boxer. The talking about 'girls' may realy have been about the young females of the species. The other reviewers may have some issues with reality. Yes I actually watched it twice, my brother is in it. As a documentary it's a 3 but for entertainment its a zero... OK, So the French liked it a Cans; Does that make it gay?