The Walker’s concurrent exhibit on boxing makes a serendipitous theme for this year’s installment of our favorite local open-air arts event. The sweet science has always been a favorite subject in American filmmaking—you could put together a series many times longer than this six-week run without coming close to running out of watchable fare. The best matchup is probably the July 21 opener, pitting opening band the Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers against the terrific Requiem for a Heavyweight, a 1962 Rod Serling-penned drama that opens memorably with a boxer’s-eye view of what it feels like to get knocked out by Cassius Clay. Other good movies in the series include The Great White Hope, with black heavyweight champion James Earl Jones fighting racism outside the ring (August 4, with buzzy local punk-popsters the Soviettes), and the Kirk Douglas noir Champion (August 11). Closing out the series August 25 is some obscure little indie film called Rocky, which we’re told had a sequel or two. Walker Art Center, (612) 375-7622, www.walkerart.org
Leave a Reply