HBO Pictures presents "Don King: Only In America" this
Saturday at 8:00pm ET. The film, an HBO presentation of a
Thomas Carter Company Production, is based on Jack
Newfield's '95 book. Newfield also has a cameo in the film,
which will be reshown on HBO November 18, 25, and 27 and
December 8. Ving Rhames stars as Don King (HBO).
KING'S THINGS: Reviews for the film have been generally
positive. VARIETY's Ray Richmond calls it "as outrageous and
extravagant as the man himself" (VARIETY, 11/10 issue). USA
TODAY's Matt Roush gives its 3 1/2 stars: "Riotous and hard-
R raucous, as exuberant and audacious as its ruthless
subject." The film is "unflattering but irresistible" (USA
TODAY, 11/14). In Philadelphia, Lee Winfrey calls the film
"a brilliant landscape painting the odious swamp of the
boxing world. Never before has a telemovie looked at the
ring with such a hard, piercing and authoritative eye"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/13). In N.Y., Eric Mink gave it
four-stars and called it "spectacular and breathtaking ... a
dazzling, dizzying two-hour work of cinematic art, bursting
with energy and originality" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/13). Also
in N.Y., Michele Greppi gave it four stars: "This is ... 97
percent vaudeville, 2 percent serious pop psychology, 1
percent wild hair" (N.Y. POST, 11/12). In Hartford, James
Endrst wrote that HBO "has scored a technical knockout ...
with a movie that's as in your face as King" (HARTFORD
COURANT, 11/10). NEWSWEEK's Rick Marin gives a mixed
review, writing that despite Rhames' "full-blooded"
performance, the movie "lumbers along with all the nuance of
a George Foreman right hook." Marin: "Is it weird for HBO
to make a movie about one of its biggest revenue sources?"
(NEWSWEEK, 11/17 issue). In L.A., Larry Stewart wrote that
HBO "is evenhanded in telling" King's story, but "the film
often moves too quickly and at times is confusing even for
those familiar with King" (L.A. TIMES, 11/13). In Boston,
Michael Blowen writes that while there are some "terrific
moments," the film needs "attitude" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/14).
BUTTERFLIES: In N.Y., Wallace Matthews: "Word on the
streets is that King is panicked about the film, and he
should be. Despite Ving Rhames' remarkably accurate and
remarkably sympathetic portrayal, nothing can soften the
impact of seeing the events of King's rough-edged life on
the screen" (Wallace Matthews, N.Y. POST, 11/13).
