Main Cast: Ving Rhames, Wesley Snipes, Peter Falk, Michael Rooker, Jon Seda
Release Year: 2002
Country: US
Run Time: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Director and screenwriter Walter Hill returns to one of his favorite themes -- desperate and violent men using force to escape from an unforgiving environment -- in this action drama set behind bars. Monroe Hutchen (Wesley Snipes) was once a promising heavyweight contender until he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole at the Sweetwater maximum security prison in California. Now, Hutchen boxes behind bars, and he's become the champion of a loosely organized prison fighting circuit. When heavyweight champion James "Iceman" Chambers (Ving Rhames) enters Sweetwater after being convicted of rape, Hutchens finds the serious competitor in the same lockup for the first time, though Chambers scoffs at the jailhouse champ. After Hutchens challenges the arrogant Chambers to a bout, aging mafioso Emmanuel "Mendy" Ripstein (Peter Falk) swings a deal that will earn Chambers an early release from prison and pull in a million dollars in bets from guards and inmates if the two men will meet in the ring for a last-man-standing bout without referees. Undisputed also features Michael Rooker, Fisher Stevens, rapper Master P, and former Yo! MTV Raps host Ed Lover. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Wes Studi - Mingo Pace; Fisher Stevens - Ratbag Dolan; Dayton Callie - Yank Lewis; Amy Aquino - Darlene Early; Johnny Williams - Al; Joe D'Angerio - Vinnie; Nils Allen Stewart - Vern Van Zandt; Denis Arndt - Warden Lipscom; Rose Rollins - Tawnee Rawlins; Jim Lampley; Master P; George Christy; Maureen O'Boyle; Ed Lover; James N. Toney
Credit
Anthony Hartman - Associate Producer, Reuben Cannon - Casting, Barbara Inglehart - Costume Designer, Jim Hensz - First Assistant Director, Walter Hill - Director, Freeman Davies, Jr. - Editor, Wesley Snipes - Executive Producer, Boaz Davidson - Executive Producer, Avi Lerner - Executive Producer, Sandra Schulberg - Executive Producer, John Thompson - Executive Producer, Danny Dimbort - Executive Producer, Trevor Short - Executive Producer, Rudolf Wiesmeier - Executive Producer, Jason Frankel - Executive Producer, Cole McKay - Fights Choreographer, Stanley Clarke - Composer (Music Score), David Schulhof - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ashley Miller - Musical Direction/Supervision, Maria Rebman Caso - Production Designer, Lloyd Ahern, Jr. - Cinematographer, David Giler - Producer, Walter Hill - Producer, Brad Krevoy - Producer, Andrew Sugerman - Producer, Alice Baker - Set Designer, Jacob Goldstein - Sound/Sound Designer, Cole McKay - Stunts Coordinator, David Giler - Screenwriter, Walter Hill - Screenwriter, Josh Hakian - Special Effects Coordinator, Jay Wilkinson - Supervising Sound Editor, Digital Dimension - Visual Effects
In this film that is surely reminiscent of the real-life events of Mike Tyson and Desiree Washington, George "Iceman" Chambers (Rhames), the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world, is convicted of rape and sentenced to prison; which turns his world upside down. Apparently, the warden allows a limited amount of boxing to take place at the prison, and an old-time con, Mendy Ripstein (Falk) arranges a fight between Chambers and the undisputed prison boxing champion, Monroe Hutchen (Snipes), who is the top ranked prison boxing champ 10 years running. Immediately there is bad blood with Chambers not wanting to be second to anyone which leads to a lunch room fight between the men. Ripstein, who is a true historian and lover of boxing, arranges worldwide betting on the big fight to see who is the real undisputed champ.
