While The Weinstein Company may have had some early hope that boxing drama Hands of Stone would be an awards contender, that's not looking very likely. The film opens in just over a month and did you even realize it? Probably not, and there's no good reason for a movie like this to be arriving in the thick of summer blockbuster season when it's sure to be ignored. That said, boxing enthusiasts are sure to take interest in a big screen film about legendary slugger Roberto Duran, especially with a cast led by Edgar Ramirez and Robert De Niro.
Ramirez stars as Duran, the Panamanian brawler best known for his fights against Sugar Ray Leonard, who will be played by Usher Raymond in a move that some are sure to despise. And while their fights are certainly a key part of the film, in particular the unforgettable "No Mas" match in 1980, the central relationship is between Duran and his trainer, Ray Arcel, played by De Niro.
Directed by Jonathan Jakubowicz with Ellen Barkin, Ana de Armas, John Turturro, and Ruben Blades, Hands of Stone opens August 26th.
