DIGGSTOWN (1992)

Few could have guessed that the promising, slightly snarky, social & political dramadies Michael Ritchie made in the ‘70s (SMILE; THE CANDIDATE; BAD NEWS BEARS; SEMI-TOUGH) would stand as his high water marks.  A few later titles clicked (Chevy Chase’s FLETCH has its fans), but this people-pleasing flop is the later credit that should have, but didn’t reboot a stalled career.*  With its great cast and neatly-built confidence game structure (the sole quality script from Steven McKay*), it targets small-town/big money boxing with smooth scam artist James Woods (another stalled career) fresh out of jail and finding a likely town of suckers in Diggstown.  Bruce Dern, who owns everything in the county, is the mark; Oliver Platt the ballyhoo sidekick setting the table; and Lou Gossett Jr. the aging, but still formidable knock-out technician brought in to bring down the town’s ten best fighters in a single day.  Though not without ‘90s stylistic gaffes and a racial component (two lynching references) the film’s larky tone can’t support, but the bulk of twists & character reveals is very satisfying.  (Platt & Gossett particular stand-outs.)  And wonder of wonders, pretty Heather Graham, on hand as the kid sister of Woods’ prison-mate, doesn’t fall into bed with Woods or become anyone’s sweetheart.  She’s just there to support the plot.  Imagine that.

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:  *Did McKay use THE MUSIC MAN/’62 as template?  Woods, Platt, Dern & Graham in for Robert Preston, Buddy Hackett, Paul Ford & Shirley Jones?  And Gossett?  Oh, he’s the Welles Fargo Wagon.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK:  Ritchie’s got game here, but can’t match Walter Hill’s HARD TIMES/’75 or William Wyler’s THE SHAKEDOWN/’29 when it comes to boxing confidence scams.  Wyler’s film also simply exceptional at pulling off about the neatest trick you’ll see in any boxing film: believable matches done without sound effects, crowd noise or music cues.  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/05/hard-times-1975.html    https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-shakedown-1929.html

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID:  *The film did so unexpectedly poorly, the distributors sent it back out (to no avail) with a new title meant to recall a big confidence game hit: MIDNIGHT STING.