Product Details

• Actors: James Woods, Louis Gossett Jr., Bruce Dern, Oliver Platt, Heather Graham
• Directors: Michael Ritchie
• Writers: Steven McKay, Leonard Wise
• Producers: Art Schaeffer, Robert Schaffel, Sharon Roesler, Steven McKay, Youssef Vahabzadeh
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: November 11, 1998
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0792834968
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,381 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

For some reason, James Woods seldom does straight comedies, but this 1992 film comes close. Playing Gabriel Caine, a con man fresh out of jail, Woods teams up with aging prizefighter "Honey" Roy Palmer (Louis Gossett Jr.) to run a scam on the boss of Diggstown, John Gillon (Bruce Dern). The bet: that "Honey" Roy can defeat any 10 boxers that Gillon throws at him in 24 hours. A combination of scams and double-crosses ensues, in which Woods, at his motor-mouth best, spars wonderfully (verbally, of course) with both Dern and Gossett. Working with director Michael Ritchie, who thrives in a milieu that involves competition, Woods has fun in an underrated comedy-thriller. It's more The Sting than Raging Bull, and thankfully so. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Ending You'll Never Guess!, April 4, 2006

By 

S. D. (Omaha, Nebraska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diggstown (DVD)

You say you like movies with endings you never see coming? Well this one's for you! I've never enjoyed watching the actors in this film more than I have in this movie. James Woods and Oliver Platt are funny. Louis Gossett Jr is believable as an aging fighter (REALLY!). And Bruce Dern plays a guy you have no problem hating.

It starts right out and the "con" is on. Just when you think Woods & crew have the upper hand, Dern comes back with a con of his own. Thus it goes. Back and forth, winner take all.

The story: James Woods (fresh out of prison) goes to a small town "owned" by Bruce Dern and sets up a con game betting that his 48 year old fighter (Louis Gossett Jr.) can beat any 10 guys residing in Diggstown in a 24 hour period of boxing matches. But Dern's character has more than a few tricks up his own sleeve to twist the outcome to his favor. The boxing matches are fun (and well done). The cons are surprising.

If you watch it, watch it from the beginning and don't allow yourself to be interrupted during the movie. You won't be sorry!

I love this film! It keeps getting better with age!

Check it out. The price is right, that's for sure!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Diggstown, October 12, 2001

By 

M. Hirschi "Strider" (Sandy, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diggstown (DVD)

I watch way too many movies, to the point that not much surprises me anymore. However, Diggstown not only surprised me, but I practically cheered at the ending (the second time too).

James Woods is as good as he was in True Believer, but with a surprising gift for comedy that really lightens his usual intensity. Oliver Platt wins the show even with a small part and the end... You will cheer (at least on the inside.)

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wildly, shamelessly entertaining., January 21, 2001

By 

"byemrb" (So-Cal, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Diggstown (DVD)

I sometimes feel guilty admitting this is one of my favorite movies.

In a nutshell, Woods and Gossett are extrodinary. Oliver Platt is wonderful and witty. There are laughs, fun dialogue, too-cool con-men, and more can-you-top-this endings than any 3 other movies.

Yes, it's transparent. Sure, it's cheap with some of it's moves. And, truly, it's vulgar in its attempts to manipulate the audience (what happens to the first of the two brothers is obscene story-telling).

But, wow, if there is any part of you that cheered at Rocky, that pulled for Butch and Sandance, had fun getting stung by the Sting, and if you'll let yourself get swept away by the story and the actors, you'll stand up and cheer at the end.

You just might not respect yourself in the morning.