Usually, a red-band trailer for a movie like Hands of Stone, the upcoming dramatic depiction of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez) and Sugar Ray Leonard's (Usher Raymond) rivalry, signals some major bloodshed or some not-so-child-friendly language. That's not the case in this case, however. No, in this situation, the red-band is mostly to show off the unclothed figure of the actress who plays Duran's girlfriend.

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Image via Weinstein Company

It's a hugely questionable marketing decision, though I can't say it's particularly surprising. And once you get beyond this kind of craven allure, Hands of Stone looks like a pretty interesting depiction of one of boxing's most famed rivalries. Both Raymond and Ramirez look their parts and director Jonathan Jakubowicz, who last directed Sequestro Express in 2005, looks to be focusing as much on their fighting as their personal lives. Speaking of which, not only does Robert De Niro appear in the movie as Duran's corner man, Ray Arcel, but his adopted daughter, Drena De Niro, also appears in the film.


She will lend supporting dramatic oomph to the film alongside the great John Turturro and the inimitable Reg E. Cathey, who is playing Don King in the movie. On the merits of the cast alone, Hands of Stone will be worth checking out, and for those who just go to movies for nudity and violence, it seems like your quota will be filled as well.

Hands of Stone is out on August 26th via The Weinstein Company.

Here's the red-band trailer for Hands of Stone:

Here's the official synopsis for Hands of Stone:

HANDS OF STONE follows the life of Roberto Duran (Edgar Ramirez), the Panamanian fighter who made his professional debut in 1968 as a 16 year-old and retired in 2002 at the age of 50. In June 1980, he defeated Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond) to capture the WBC welterweight title, but shocked the boxing world by returning to his corner in their November rematch, famously saying the words “no mas” (no more.)

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Image via Weinstein Company

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Image via The Weinstein Company