Customer Reviews

Diggstown [VHS]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.)

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.

Diggstown is one of the most satisfying movies of all time. Lou Gossett Jr. and James Woods are at their all time bests. Bruce Dern plays an excellent bad guy, and you truly wind up hating him by the end of the movie.

This movie is witty, and the boxing scenes are done incredibly well, loaded with action. Diggstown is ultimately about one person's struggle to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds with a never-give-up attitude. This is captured quite nicely, as you can't help but cheer for Honey Roy Palmer (Gossett Jr.) to beat ten different boxers in a 24-hour period.

The film portrays the con game at its best, and keeps you guessing at who will be the supreme con-artist. It has several twists and turns that keeps you on your toes (no pun intended-okay, maybe a slight boxing pun) to the very unpredictable ending. Diggstown is truly a pleasure to watch.

Great actors, great story and an even better ending. Put this all together and you get one heck of a great movie. I would have to say that this is a classic in by book.

Known as Midnight Sting in The UK, it's taken me ages to track this down on DVD.
Without giving the plot away, the whole film is a non-stop battle of wits between Woods and Dern who are ideally casted for the roles they are playing and allows them to flourih to the best of there ability.
Woods is the epitome of cool whilst showing a human side.
The Boxing scenes are superbly played out, finding the right balance between realism and humour.
Without spoiling the film the ending is one of the best i've ever seen in a film and captures the whole plot in a single moment which will have you cheering to yourself when the final fight is played out.
Without doubt i would recommend this film as a must have, it will keep you captivated even after repeated viewing which is rare for films these days.
A true Classic.

In DIGGSTOWN (1992), 56-year-old Louis Gossett Jr. is woefully miscast as a boxer ten years his junior. During ring sequences, Gossett is bloated, stiff, out of shape and shows hardly any boxing skill. For a man who must fight ten challengers within 24 hours, this spells cinematic disaster.

Lou's main co-stars, Bruce Dern, James Woods and Oliver Platt behave here like they've just escaped three giant cans of pressed ham. The first name of a character played by Duane Davis would've suited any of these gents: 'Hambone.' Even the presence of former heavyweight contender Randall 'Tex' Cobb isn't enough to salvage one of the poorest boxing movies of recent years.

In his second big screen effort, Jim Caviezel has a minor role as a frightened teen who must pound gloves with human juggernaut 'Honey' Roy Palmer (Gossett). Perspiration that pours off jumpy Jim may be flop sweat, but at least his character's believable. Also way down on the roster is Lou's third (and final) ex-wife, Cyndi. They divorced the same year this picture was in theaters.

So the big question: can 'Butterball' Parker whip five much younger men from midnight to three A.M. and then come back 18 hours later to thrash five more, including as a finale a pro who once K.O.ed him, but good? Whattaya YOU think?

One of the best movies I have ever seen. Gossett is fabulous.

Even though you go in knowing the outcome - - there are enough twists, turns and surprises to make the movie interesting.

Great ensemble cast.

One of my favorites!

I have loved Diggstown since I first saw it as a kid. I don't know why I waited so long to get the DVD. Sure, it's cheesey in parts, but it's overall just a great boxing movie and really fun. Is it Rocky? Of course not, but it doesn't set out to be. It balances comedy and drama very well, so the few serious/dramatic parts really hit home without taking away from how funny the rest of the movie. And the ending is great. If I saw the movie for the first time now, I might be find it obvious, but I remember being completely surprised when I first saw it, and I still love it to this day.