TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

drjgardner It's hard to believe they actually made this film. What were they thinking? Better yet, what were Gene Hackman, Jeff Fahey, and Jennifer Beals thinking? They do a decent job in the acting area but the plot is so stale it looks like a fight film from the 40s. And the fight scenes are so staged it looks an amateur film. I mean, after "Rocky" we are all used to some pretty good fight scenes where it looks like the guy is actually being hit.If you like fight films there are two good Rocky films, especially the first which I thought was excellent. As they continued to make them they ultimately devalued the original, but at the time I thought it was brilliant. Now that it is a cliché it's hard to remember how powerful the original was. In addition to Rocky I liked "The Fighter" (2010), "Warrior" (2011), "Fight Club" (1999), "Raging Bull" (1980), "Cinderella Man" (2005), "Champion" (1949), and "The Set-up" (1949). Of course I've left out the Kung Fu genre.

merklekranz Following a well worn cliché path, "Split Decisions" is far from original, nevertheless I found it entertaining. The three generations of Irish boxers seem to be in constant turmoil, but in the end stand together nicely. Gene Hackman is not the star here, even with top billing. It is Craig Sheffer and Jeff Fahey, as Hackman's sons, who carry the film. Jennifer Beals really has nothing to do, and is totally wasted. Character development is good, and the truncated boxing scenes are exciting............................. If you are willing to accept this revenge in the ring film for what it is, it is very watchable. - MERK

bkoganbing I'm really amazed at some of the reviews I've read on this film. It's not the greatest boxing film ever made, still it portrays both the good and the seamier side of the sport. It's a low level Rocky with a touch of an old James Cagney-Pat O'Brien film, The Irish In Us.The idea that even a top amateur can step into the ring with a ranked professional contender in his division and beat him is nonsense. What The Irish In Us had was James Cagney as the MANAGER stepping into the ring when his fighter is injured and beating the welterweight champion for the title. Next to that Split Decisions is positively realistic.What's nice here is the relationship of the three generations of boxers in the McGuinn family. Grandfather John McLiam, Father Gene Hackman, and sons Craig Sheffer and Jeff Fahey. When Fahey stands up to mobster James Tolkan and refuses to throw a fight to his boy Eddie Velez, he's worked over and then accidentally killed. Sheffer steps in for his slain brother.Though the McGuinns fight with each other a bit, they do stick together in a crisis. In its way Split Decisions is a boxing fantasy, much like the highly acclaimed Rocky. Not bad entertainment either.This review is dedicated to McKennon Wimberly of the Professional Bull Riders who did some amateur boxing himself and shows the same heart riding bulls as Craig Sheffer did in this film.

giraudel Eddie McGuinn is a young amateur boxer who's good enough for the Olympics. His brother Ray also boxes, but he's an egotistical hothead who aligns himself with lowlifes. When the mob tells Ray to lose a fight against "Snake" Pedroza, he refuses, and is killed by mafia thugs and Pedroza himself. As a result, Eddie decides to put his Olympic dreams behind and turn pro so he can fight Pedroza himself, and avenge his brother's death.Simply it is amazing, it may not be one of Hackman's best known films but it is one of his best. A must see.