Review of Cockfighter (1974) by Ryan S — 27 Feb 2008

Cockfighting. It's a sport I wholly and completely disagree with, and despise every time I hear about it. Why watch a movie about it, then? I recently saw Two Lane Blacktop, and was very impressed, and found out that Monte Hellman also directed this.

I am also a huge fan of Warren Oates, so I figured I should see if this is any good. It was. Up until the final fight, the cockfighting sequences are not shown too graphically; instead, many of the shots focus on the inhumanity of those who are betting on the fights and how their actions are as absurd and horrifying as the fights they are betting on.

Oates is brilliant as Frank, a cockfighter who refuses to talk until he wins the coveted trainer of the year medal. Talking got him into trouble, so we only hear his voice in flashbacks or through his insightful narration.

There are aspects of the film that could have been improved upon, such as the love story sub plot involving Oates and possibly the rather abrupt ending. But in the end this is an excellent film, regardless of one's view on the horrible sport it is focusing on.