This falls short of the greatness it aspires to solely because of its subject matter. There’s a film here about the consequences of our inner violence escalating beyond ourselves, and it’s dying to escape. But it’s impossible to avoid violence in a boxing movie.
Raging Bull might be the only one to get it right.
That being said, this is deftly directed. Michael B. Jordan knows what he’s doing behind a camera. The man is a great actor, and understands what actors need to do their jobs. In an effort to make that happen, he directs well, and it pays out.
Any scene that doesn’t directly involve boxing is so wonderfully made; I’m immediately captivated. And through no fault of his own, as soon as the boxers enter the arena, I remain visually captivated, but like this series, I become emotionally stunted.