Girlfight (2000)

Director: Karyn Kusama
Writer: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Michelle Rodriguez, Santiago Douglas, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon, Ray Santiago
Genre: Drama, Sport

On the back of watching Million Dollar Baby, I needed to revisit Girlfight which follows through on the sports angle all the way. This movie was the introduction of Michelle Rodriguez, in the role of Diana Guzman. Diana is a troubled teen unable to control her temper, always getting in fights at school. She wants to take up boxing in an attempt to learn to control her temper, but the world isn't yet ready for girls in the ring.

We follow Guzman's fight to win accept, both in the ring and in her surroundings. Rodriguez did well to portray Diana, as even her bad-ass look seems like written for the part. The entire plot and drama is quite predictable and cliched, but as I usually say; there's a reason cliches become cliches. It's filled with heart, it knows which story it tries to tell, and stick to it and it doesn't oversell it either. Youth's in the projects, trying to fight their way out. Hardly original, but very focused and despite one or two unnecessary moments; quite enjoyable.