Diggstown DVD: Review By Fallenlords

Gabriel Kane (James Woods) is a con artist just released from jail that is looking to score on the big con. Everything is in place, he has the mark, and he has the backing, now all he needs is ‘Honey’ Roy Palmer (Louis Gossett Jr). One of the most underrated boxers of his generation. But even for Gabriel that might be a stretch as the two have a history that is less than favourable. But to take their mark, John Gillion (Bruce Dern), they are going to both have to use their unique skills to the maximum both in and out of the ring.

When I saw this film it was titled ‘Midnight Sting’ this sometimes happens. Films that cross the pond are renamed and I have no idea why. Seeing how this has no review I thought I would quickly write one, but having not seen this film in a few years I may be off a little with some of the info.

Anyway, this film is on a par with ‘The Sting’ (Paul Newman/Robert Redford) from the con perspective, perhaps that was part of the reason for the renaming, but it has a boxing flavour to it. So to like this film I think you need to be possibly be a boxing fan or at least not shy away from grown men hitting ten bags of crap out of one another. Though boxing in this film is the ruse for the whole con.

This has to be to my mind, one of the most underrated films ever. It is cleverly done from start to finish, the con is never a sure thing it always touch and go. From problems fixing fights, to gangsters reminding the con artists that they are playing with ‘their’ money. You never know which way it will go right until the end.

James Woods is excellent as Gabriel Kane, the role of a conman it seemed to suit his style of acting. To be fair he is an actor I have always liked since watching Best Seller. It was nice to see him resurrect himself a little recently in the TV series Shark. In fact comparison wise Kane is a little Shark like, as in the likeable character that you are not sure if you should like or hate.

Louis Gosset Jr, fits the part of ‘Honey’ Roy Palmer like a glove. The over-the-hill boxer who never quite got his shot at the big time, but has some real natural ability. The interaction between him and Woods makes them seem like lifelong friends.

You have a great villain in the shape of Bruce Dern as John Gillon. A man who is not averse to pulling his own con jobs to get what he wants. Gillon is far from honest and owns nearly the entire town, that being ‘Diggstown’. It would be unfair to state how it got the town, but you find out in the film. Gillon is no fool, he is a savvy operator and ideal opponent to go against the guile of Kane.

Heather Graham stars as Emily Forrester, the sister of Gabriel’s cell mate from prison Wolf Forrester. The man who tells Gabriel the history of Diggstown and sets up the initial con. Although it is a small part, she does have a part to play.

Oliver Platt plays Fritz, Gabriel’s sidekick and the third member of the main conman team. He has been working the town, spreading the legend of Honey Roy Palmer while Gabriel is still in jail.

Benny ‘The Jet’ Urquidez stars as the referee and choreographs the fight scenes. Anybody with an inkling of an interest in martial arts will know this name.

Acting wise everybody plays their parts well, nobody looks out of place and it all fits together. Even the country yokels that man up to be part of the boxing match, fit the parts. The way things are played out reminds you of films like ‘The Sting’ but this does have a more modern setting. Now con wise I would say it is harder to pull something off the more modern you go, for various logistical reasons.

Directed by Michael Ritchie I can’t say he was one of my favourite directors, having done things like ‘Fletch’, ‘The Golden Child’ and ‘Wildcats’. But I think this film showed a different side of him that was more serious but did keep some of the lighthearted elements seen in his other films. Normally that probably wouldn’t work, but it does work with this especially in the interplay between James Woods and Louis Gossett Jr.

Overall the film flows at a nice pace, has some funny and sombre moments. Even though Woods is obviously a scoundrel, he is a likeable scoundrel and you want him to win through. It’s like when you are faced with two bad guys, you pick the least bad in a funny sort of way.

These days the suits make look a bit dated, but the story I think holds fast and could work even today. To be honest I prefer the name ‘Midnight Sting’ because I think it is more descriptive than ‘Diggstown’ and has more appeal. After all the boxing match starts at Midnight and involves so many fights during 24 hours.

I would say it’s on a par with ‘The Sting’ and if you liked that you should enjoy this as well. Why this only has a 6.6 at IMDB I don’t know, why this didn’t do better at the box office I don’t know. Some of the genre listings I have seen for this list it as a ‘Sports Comedy’ but that is wrong, the humour is there but within context. There is seriousness to the film even though humour plays a part, I can’t remember seeing that many comedies where a guy’s brother is lynched.

Other comments I have seen are this film stretches belief by having an over-the-hill boxer fighting younger amateurs. But I don’t personally think that has an impact. I doubt today many amateur boxers if put in a ring with a retired pro, who had a chance at the world title, would necessarily do that well if the guy is still in shape. In this instance Roy runs a gym and it’s obvious he still keeps himself in good shape.

The only reason I can think this film didn’t do well was marketing. Name wise Diggstown means nothing to me, Midnight Sting is better. Perhaps when it reached the UK they had decided to rebrand it to give it a better chance.

Anyway, if you haven’t seen this film get hold of a copy and see it for yourself. If you like con films and boxing then this film is a must see.