You won't be disappointed!

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

The Set-Up is a fairly lackluster and uneventful boxing flick. This would have to be the shortest film I've ever seen, plus around two thirds of the film were spent in the ring, which is quite odd. Basically Stoker's corner makes a deal to throw the fight without telling Stoker, he wins the fight and his corner flees and Stoker cops the brunt for it. That premise is a worthy premise for a film, but it is all too short and poorly executed, the main character barely has dialogue. I don't know what I'm suppose to get out of this? Stoker: Yeah, top spot. And I'm just one punch away. Julie: I remember the first time you told me that. You were just one punch away from the title shot then. Don't you see, Bill, you'll always be just one punch away.

Just as there are anti-War films, The Set-Up is a powerful anti-Sports film; a Sports cousin to Paths of Glory. Though moderate in length it's exquisitely paced. It's a Film Noir that takes place in near real time, and the effect transports the audience straight into an authentic 1940s band-box boxing arena. The cigar smoke clouds the air and the gamblers shout at the fighters while clutching the sports section of the newspaper. The Set-Up focuses on a worn out boxer, Stoker, who's in the twilight of his career, hoping to muster one last shot at a title. Unbeknownst to him, his manager has fixed his fight with a gambler, but because Stoker has been losing so much anyway the manager didn't feel the need to tell the boxer he was supposed to take a dive. Prior to the fight his wife begs him to quit, but he pridefully ignores her plea, walking blindly into a situation over his head. The Set-Up is dark, gritty, and paints an utterly unforgiving landscape of corruption, greed, and exploitation in which athletes are merely lambs sacrificed for entertainment, and for profit.

Robert Wise has directed two of the most popular movies (West Side Story, The Sound of Music) in the history of cinema but he never made a film as well as The Set Up. One of the half dozen best fight films in cinema history it also a master class in film language as Wise and lens man Milton Krasner present the film in real time the moment the great (but uncredited)NY tabloid photog Arthur "Wee Gee" Fellig as timekeeper sounds the bell ringside to its powerful conclusion.The consensus of all concerned, including his manager and corner man (played to slimy perfection by George Tobias and Percy Helton)is that Stoker Thompson (Robert Ryan) is washed up. Playing on the under card in Paradise City his handlers guarantee a local thug he will take a dive against up and comer Tiger Nelson. Problem is they don't let Stoker in on it for fear he will gum up the works. They instead gamble on his rusty skills to betray him. When his main squeeze (Audrey Totter) has had enough and looks like she walks Stoker has nothing left but to prove everyone else wrong about him. A brutal bloody match ensues and when things don't go as predicted reinforcements are called in to deal with Stoker.With the clock running Wise and cinematographer Krasna economically flesh out a supporting casts of mugs and ticket buyers while establishing the state of Stoker's career in a couple of lengthy well choreographed takes. The fan's feelings are varied at first as Wise inter-cuts their reactions to the ring savagery but as it ramps up all are down with the pain being inflicted and Wise subversively includes us in as well as we root for Stoker standing alone.The fight scenes are choppily energized and fractured and Ryan's boxer build and skills bring each round a verisimilitude lost on doughier previous Hollywood boxing films. Ryan's display of emotions from confusion and anger to rage and fear rank with some of the finest acting of the era but like the film flew under the radar in its day while handsomer faces and stars like Garfield and Douglas (Champion) made glossier, bigger budgeted albeit fine fight films. But with more they lacked Wise's minimalist (no score, just ambient music,)approach awash in expressionistic portraits working within a precise time frame. From a pure finesse point The Set Up has more punching power than all its predecessors with only Raging Bull a suitable challenger to its belt in the last century.

This one is an amazing picture for sure. having lasted for 80 minutes barely; it glues you to your seats till the end of the picture. It captures well the moments of the boxers before they go for a fight. I was amazed at the way Robert Ryan was boxing; but only after going thru his biography it was revealed that he was a real-time boxer before. He fitted the bill pretty well. The audiences of the boxing match too emote very well. Even during the course, I have emoted as well. The picture pulls you into the boxing arena. The end scene was a sensible one. Good performances by the actors, a well directed movie. I could not find a reason why you skip watching this movie despite the fact you know seldom about boxing. Don't miss it.