Split Decisions

Split Decisions is a 1988 American crime drama sports film directed by David Drury and starring Craig Sheffer, Jeff Fahey and Gene Hackman.^[2]

Split Decisions
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	David Drury
Written by	David Fallon
Produced by	Joe Wizan
Starring	Craig Sheffer Jeff Fahey Jennifer Beals John McLiam Gene Hackman
Cinematography	Timothy Suhrstedt
Edited by	Thomas Stanford
Music by	Basil Poledouris
Distributed by	New Century Entertainment
Release date	November 11, 1988 (1988-11-11)
Running time	92 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$9 million[1]
Box office	$695,822

Plot

On the east side of New York City, boxing trainer Danny McGuinn is trying to prepare one of his sons, Eddie, to earn a chance to fight in the Olympic Games, while his other son, Ray, has fallen in with shady men from organized crime. After Ray is killed, Eddie discovers that an opposing boxer, Pedroza, was involved in his brother’s death and challenges him to a bout in the hopes of securing revenge. Eddie defeats Pedroza after a hard-fought match, and the film ends with the remaining McGuinns celebrating victoriously.

Cast

• Craig Sheffer as Eddie McGuinn
• Jeff Fahey as Ray McGuinn
• Gene Hackman as Danny McGuinn
• John McLiam as Pop McGuinn
• Jennifer Beals as Barbara Uribe
• Eddie Velez as Julian 'The Snake' Pedroza
• Carmine Caridi as Lou Rubia
• James Tolkan as Benny Pistone
• David Labiosa as Rudy
• Harry Van Dyke as Douby
• Anthony Trujillo as Angel
• Victor Campos as Santiago
• Tom Bower as Detective Walsh
• Julius Harris as Tony Leone
• De'voreaux White as Coop
• Herb Muller as Mr. D.
• Cathleen A. Master as Pedroza's Girlfriend
• Rachel Renick as Red-Haired Woman
• Mark Dirkse as Thug #1
• George Robotham as Thug #2
• Pete Antico as Sparring Partner #1
• Mark Hicks as Sparring Partner #2
• Michael Adams as Sparring Partner #3
• Joe Godsen as Sparring Partner #4
• George P. Wilbur as Referee At Patty Flood

Reception

In a review, TV Guide described Split Decisions as a "tedious low-budget boxing film". While praising Hackman's performance, the review pans the movie's "predictable script and phony, Rocky-style ending".^[3]

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Michael Wilmington spoke more positively about the movie, declaring it a "rousing boxing melodrama that pretty much earns a split decision itself".^[4]

See also

• List of boxing films