Hardface

Directed by Mark A. Hood, Hardface is not a biography of the boxer Richard “Hardface” Mason. Well, at least not in a direct way. What Hood is after in his documentary is not a straight narrative of the man’s life; go read Wikipedia for that. No, the filmmaker is more interested in the behind-the-scenes, if you will, of fighting. As such, the film is really about the intense training aspiring boxers go through and their powerful bond with the trainers pushing them to be their best every step of the way.

To achieve that goal, the director takes a two-pronged approach. He interviews Mason, current boxers-in-training, and the Falcone family, who own Northside Gym. These interviews reveal how tight-knit everyone is and that they truly believe that if one of them wins a fight, they all win.

“…about the intense training aspiring boxers go through and their powerful bond with the trainers…”

Paralleling that is a look at how Mason trains at Northside (where he got his big break) and what it takes to keep the athletes coming in every day as they should to train and prepare for upcoming bouts. Mixed in is some archival footage showing how great Mason was inside the ring and what the sport of boxing means to him and the Falcones.

Hardface works because husband and wife John and Linda Falcone, and their sons Giovanni and Luciano, are true champions of the underdog. Their frank discussions with the athletes and their acceptance of changing realities give the documentary quite a few stakes. As far as Mason goes, he is a fascinating figure, having never once been knocked down, even in fights he ultimately lost. But his dedication to boxing and the trainees is impressive, and while he can be hard on them, he does genuinely care.

With Hardface, Hood has crafted an interesting hybrid of an underdog sports story and true-to-life drama. It is made all the more effective due to the style and impeccable editing. The subjects at the heart of the film are engaging and speak honestly throughout. As such, whether or not you are a sports fan, this documentary will prove inspiring to all who watch it.

For more information about Hardface, visit the production company’s site.