They're Just My Friends (2006)
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0% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
57% of users liked it
(904 ratings)
A cruiserweight boxing champion in the process of training to become pro finds his interracial romance fanning the flames of hate and offering a newfound sense of clarity in a semi-autobiographical drama directed by Attika Torrence and starring real-life boxing sensation Punchin' Pat Nwamu. In… More A cruiserweight boxing champion in the process of training to become pro finds his interracial romance fanning the flames of hate and offering a newfound sense of clarity in a semi-autobiographical drama directed by Attika Torrence and starring real-life boxing sensation Punchin' Pat Nwamu. In the wake of his father's death, Pat begins to align himself with a local group of Italian-American gangsters while attempting to establish a concrete sense of community. Though Pat shows great promise in the boxing ring, his future career is suddenly thrown into question when he enters into an ill-advised relationship with neighborhood girl Gina (Rue Debona). The Guido Boys are a racist, Howard Beach neighborhood street gang who don't take kindly to interracial relationships, and before long Pat is locked up in the local jail. Though he may have taken a beating or two during the course of his career, Pat definitely has the brains to match his brawn, and after getting a second chance at life on the outside thanks to his physical talents and connections with local Lodge member and sympathetic father figure Frank Gibbs (Bruce Altman), this determined athlete is finally prepared to re-evaluate his questionable friendships and start from scratch no matter how bumpy the road that lies ahead. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Attika Torrence
- Written By
- Patrick Nwamu
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Apr 28, 2006 Wide
- Studio
- Punchin' Pat Productions
Critic Reviews
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Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger
A film to stand alongside the best of Ed Wood.
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Matt Singer, Village Voice
For such a poorly made autobiopic to earn a theatrical release, Nwamu must have some friends in high places.
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Frank Lovece, Film Journal International
Directed by Attika J. Torrence with the finesse of a home movie, and seemingly lit by flashlight.
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Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
This ludicrously overstuffed and overlong drama throws together bits and pieces from boxing pictures, biker flicks, mob thrillers and interracial romances, stitching them together, like Frankenstein's monster.
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Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
So incompetent it should be used by film schools as a manual on how not to make a movie.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Patrick Nwamu Jr.
as Punchin' Pat Black
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Malik Yoba
as Pat Black Sr.
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Bruce Altman
as Frank Gibbs
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Thom Christopher
as Rocky
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Al Snow
as Big Al
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Louis Vanaria
as Anthony
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Taimak
as Captain Taimak
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Lord Jamar
as Light
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Rue Debona
as Gina
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Michael Easton
as Detective McCarthy
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Jas Anderson
as Rollo
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Johnny "Cha-Cha" Ciarcia
as Cha Cha
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Tommy Gallagher
as Vito
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Matthew Jay
as Guido Boy
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John Bianco
as Vinny
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Michael Chenevert
as Manito
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Phil Cabasino
as BC Boy