Edgar Ramírez
Roberto Duran
Hands of Stone
“No más. No surrender.”
2016
1h 51m
R · EnglishDirector: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Overview
The legendary Roberto Duran and his equally legendary trainer Ray Arcel change each other's lives.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readThe Sweet Science of Mythmaking
I’ve seen enough boxing movies to know the drill. The underdog rises from poverty, trains in a dingy gym, endures a montage of sweat and sacrifice, then steps into the ring to either triumph or be broken. It’s a formula that works—Rocky, Raging Bull, The Fighter—because it’s not really about boxing.
It’s about the stories we tell ourselves about struggle, about the way pain carves out space for something like redemption. Hands of Stone, Jonathan Jakubowicz’s biopic of Panamanian legend Roberto Durán, knows this drill well. Too well, maybe.
The film opens with a close-up of Edgar Ramírez’s face, slick with sweat and something darker—rage, fear, the weight of expectation. It’s a striking image, one that promises a story about the man behind the myth. But somewhere between the training montages and the inevitable fall from grace, Hands of Stone stumbles into a familiar trap: it mistakes legend for depth.
Durán, nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" for his punishing power, was a force of nature in the ring, a man who fought with a ferocity that bordered on self-destruction. The film wants to capture that ferocity, but it often settles for spectacle over soul.
Jakubowicz, a Venezuelan filmmaker with a keen eye for the political undercurrents of Latin American stories, seems aware of the stakes. Durán wasn’t just a boxer; he was a symbol, a working-class hero who rose from the slums of Panama to become one of the greatest fighters of all time. The film gestures at this context—there are scenes of Durán’s childhood, his mother’s struggles, the poverty that shaped him—but it never quite digs in.
Instead, it falls back on the rhythms of the sports biopic, where every setback is a lesson and every victory is a stepping stone to greatness. The problem isn’t that the film is predictable; it’s that it doesn’t trust its audience enough to sit with the messier parts of Durán’s story.
Take the casting, for instance. Edgar Ramírez is a compelling presence, all coiled energy and simmering anger, but the film doesn’t give him much room to breathe. Durán was a man of contradictions—brilliant in the ring, self-destructive outside of it, a figure who could inspire both awe and frustration.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A compelling biopic with strong performances that doesn't rise above conventional sports-drama tropes."
Edgar Ramírez’s intense, authentic portrayal of Roberto Durán anchors the film’s emotional core. The narrative is formulaic, though, relying on familiar underdog beats that dilute its impact. The supporting cast, particularly Robert De Niro, helps, but the pacing is uneven and the storytelling lacks depth.
What viewers praise
- Edgar Ramírez’s performance Ramírez gives a powerful, convincing portrayal of Roberto Durán, capturing his charisma and fighting spirit.
- Robert De Niro’s presence De Niro as Durán’s trainer adds gravitas and star power.
- Authentic boxing sequences The fight scenes are realistic and energetic.
Common complaints
- Predictable storyline The film follows the well-worn sports-biopic path with few surprises.
- Uneven pacing Slow stretches make the rhythm inconsistent.
- Underdeveloped side characters Apart from De Niro’s, supporting roles are thinly sketched.
Recommended for
Sports biopic fans Edgar Ramírez admirers Boxing enthusiasts Robert De Niro fans Underdog story lovers
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Hands of Stone: The Real Drama Outside the Ring
latestnetflix.com's read is that Jonathan Jakubowicz’s Hands of Stone (2016) promised a knockout biopic about Panamanian boxing legend Roberto Durán, but the real story unfolded behind the camera—where a mix of star power, cultural clashes, and last-minute pivots nearly stole the spotlight from the gloves.
A Director’s Passion Project
Jakubowicz, a Venezuelan filmmaker of Polish-Jewish descent, didn’t just direct Hands of Stone—he fought for it. The project was years in the making, with Jakubowicz reportedly securing rights to Durán’s life story after building trust with the boxer’s family. His personal connection to Latin America’s underdog narratives (his grandparents were Holocaust survivors) fueled the film’s gritty, emotional tone. Yet, the road to production was rocky. Early scripts reportedly struggled to balance Durán’s volatile personality with his sporting genius, leading to multiple rewrites before De Niro and Ramírez signed on.
De Niro’s Mentor Role: Fact or Fiction?
Robert De Niro’s casting as legendary trainer Ray Arcel was a coup, but rumors swirled about his hands-on approach. In interviews tied to the film’s release, Ramírez hinted at De Niro’s mentorship, calling him a "second director" on set. The veteran actor, known for method acting, allegedly pushed the cast to dig deeper into their roles—even Usher, who played Sugar Ray Leonard. Yet, Jakubowicz downplayed tensions, framing De Niro’s intensity as collaborative rather than controlling. Still, whispers persisted about creative friction, particularly over the film’s pacing and historical accuracy.
Ana de Armas’ Breakout Moment
Before Blonde or Knives Out, Ana de Armas was a relative unknown in Hollywood. Her role as Felicidad Iglesias, Durán’s wife, was a gamble—one that paid off. De Armas later called the film a "turning point" in her career, though she admitted the pressure of working alongside De Niro and Ramírez was overwhelming [rumor, unverified]. Behind the scenes, she reportedly bonded with Ramírez (her real-life partner at the time), which may have added authenticity to their on-screen chemistry. The film’s premiere, where de Armas arrived in a striking red gown, cemented her as a rising star to watch.
The Missing Punch: Why the Film Underperformed
Despite its star-studded cast, Hands of Stone landed with a thud at the box office. Critics praised the performances (Ramírez’s physical transformation was a standout) but criticized the script’s uneven storytelling. Rotten Tomatoes’ 45% score reflected a divide: some called it a "passionate but flawed tribute", while others dismissed it as a missed opportunity. Jakubowicz later acknowledged the challenges of condensing Durán’s complex life into two hours, hinting at studio interference in the final cut. The film’s 6.1/10 rating on SensCritique suggests it resonated more with boxing fans than general audiences.
Unconfirmed Buzz: What Didn’t Make the Cut
- Usher’s Boxing Bootcamp: Rumors claimed the singer trained for months to nail Leonard’s footwork, but no footage confirmed his dedication. - De Niro’s Cameo Push: Unverified reports suggested De Niro lobbied for a larger role, only to be reined in by Jakubowicz. - Panama’s Reaction: Local critics reportedly criticized the film’s portrayal of Durán’s personal life, though no direct quotes surfaced.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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