MORE TO SEE
LENNOX: THE UNTOLD STORY (15) ★★★★☆
THE life of Britain’s greatest and classiest heavyweight boxer is given a suitably thoughtful treatment in an excellent US documentary narrated by friend and superfan Dr Dre.
Unlike his showier rivals, Lennox Lewis preferred to do his talking in the ring so, unsurprisingly, directors Rick Lazes and Seth Koch fail to tease out any bombshell revelations from this self-effacing giant. So it’s up to his biological and boxing families to fill in the details of his remarkable life.
Born to Jamaican parents in London, Lewis had a troubled childhood after his single mother Violet left him with her abusive “aunt” while she moved to Canada to find work. After being expelled from reform schools, he moved to Canada to be reunited with his mother, where he found direction and much-needed paternal guidance from late boxing trainer Arnie Boehm.
The film intercuts this touching personal story with thrilling action from key fights and revealing footage captured outside the ring.
Former promoter Kellie Maloney (previously known as Frank) reveals how Lewis supported her during her transition and how the boxer was uncomfortable with his PR team’s decision to present him as a flag-waving English gentleman when Lewis, a product of three nations, saw himself as a citizen of the world.
A fascinating portrait of a sporting class act.
■ Available to watch on digital now.
FINDING STEVE MCQUEEN (15) ★★★☆☆
THE title is misleading. Neither the Bullitt actor nor the 12 Years A Slave director appear in this middling crime caper. Instead, the real-life figure is a corrupt US president. No, not that one.
I’m talking about Richard Nixon whose alleged $30m stash of illegal campaign funds inspired a gang of thieves to rob a Californian bank in 1972.
The story, which opens in 1980, is narrated by the supposedly charming Harry Barber (a miscast Travis Fimmel), an obsessive fan of the movie star Steve Mcqueen and the only member of the gang who hasn’t been caught.
As this slightly creepy figure confesses all to his girlfriend Molly (Rachael Taylor), we flash back to the 70s to see him inducted into a gang of bank robbers by his sleazy Uncle Enzo (the always watchable William Fichtner).
It’s well paced but doesn’t deliver quite enough suspense or laughs.
■ Available to download/stream now.
■ Above reviews by Andy Lea.