The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 122

wwwheraldcom FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 29 2000 6G Minnie Driver Hallie Kate Eisenberg Joey Lauren Adams Kathleen Turner Jaime Tirelli star in writer-director Karyn Newcomer Michelle Rodriguez and BY RENE RODRIGUEZ rrodriguezheraldcom it kill you to wear a skirt once in a asks Diana exasperated father in Girlfight He may be far from a nurturing dad he seems to tolerate his kids more than anything else but even he help notice there is something very wrong with his teenage daughter sullen glum demeanor takes adolescent angst to a frightening new extreme She walks around glaring at the world her eyes narrow and angry her mouth set in a perpetual scowl She dresses in sloppy tomboy attire at an age when most girls spend hours obsessing over their appearance Quick with a four-letter word and even quicker with a punch Diana is itching for a reason to vent her rage Her pent-up fury a combination of depression loneliness and lack of hope keeps the world at bay If she gets into one more fight in school the principal threatens be kicked out for good And then one day Diana walks into a boxing gym and everything changes Girlfight the first film by writer-director Karyn Kusama premiered at this Sundance Film Festival where it shared the Grand Jury prize The Sundance hype punch ing romance with Adrian (Santiago Douglas) a fellow boxer who gets past her defenses and gives her a taste of the exhilarating possibilities of love at least until they find out they are scheduled to face each other in the ring The surprisingly bittersweet way in which their relationship is worked out is further proof that Kusama is one to watch other secret weapon is Michelle Rodriguez who plays Diana Her performance is the most startling debut a blast of pure instinctive acting that suggests a ferocious if still raw talent Adrian tells Diana after their first kiss the girl replies always thought of myself as Rodriguez makes that line funnier and sadder than it has any right to be a knockout GIRLFIGHT (R) Cast: Michelle Rodriguez Jaime Tirelli Paul Calderon Santiago Douglas Ray Santiago I Writer-director: Karyn Kusama Producers: Sarah Green Martha Griffin Maggie Renzi A Screen Gems release Running time: 110 minutes Vulgar language sexual situations adult themes a knockout MOVIES cannot always be trusted (Happy Texas was an audience favorite there last year) but this time the hype proves warranted Part of the reason is thoughtful perceptive script which cuts far deeper than its premise suggests Girlfight just an estrogen riff on Rocky: The movie portrays boxing as an idealized version of life itself one that rewards discipline and dedication and comes complete with a trainer to teach you what to do a referee to watch out for low blows judges to score your performance and a clearly defined goal (knock the other guy out) In other words just what Diana needs to give meaning and purpose to her aimless life Shot on a low budget with the help of executive producer John Sayles (who has a cameo) Girlfight gets everything right: Its gritty bleak setting of a largely Hispanic Brooklyn neighborhood the peeling walls and grimy atmosphere of the boxing gym where Diana finds her calling her bond with her sweet-natured brother (Ray Santiago) and her combative relationship with her uncaring father (Paul Calderon) Best of all is touch Beautiful Sometimes you have to give up the life of your dreams to discover the dream of your life Destination Films aiwi Flashpoint limited ns FYoSperlt Pictures i 2 DrfcetVFogviood Fite iFd field ffe 'tinnie lver Doe iauren Fdans lerleVefanson MgeHt iwfeon AWmeenTurnermHtfe fate BseiwrgFmanda VteyJohftonCathjiandrich VkfVgan Don Bernstein Dade KSOtei farvonides-Dusherto Frwel "Dewra Wisher 'CrChanes Breen fiRowrf Tearat AS Did Vane fate Driver Wendy Daphet Barry londod tent Baun VeveFtayer Vty Finn David Forrest Beau Rogers Dohn BertoliBDRacf uvnMBj' BerpuFelt) Field -T! NrfMgt'MMagBin'Wr9tcaa STARTS TODAY- oomcroi njTTwrrt ArrFpDTO cop tiio rfjrrPNT tai nrAnF' npAocpc 4 1 4 4 4.