A new biopic about famed boxer Roberto Duran hits theatres this week and co-stars Robert De Niro. It's called "Hands of Stone."

Duran, played by Edgar Ramirez, has been called by some the greatest lightweight fighter of all time. The film traces his life as a poor boy growing up in Panama, his rise to the top of the boxing game with the help of his trainer Ray Arcel, and his famous bouts with Sugar Ray Leonard.

"Hands of Stone" often follows the conventional formulas of many other boxing movies. But unoriginality aside, the film does offer up an interesting explanation of his famous "no mas" fight with Sugar Ray. In that bout, Duran suddenly quit in the middle of the eight round, and the film shows you how he was forced to take the fight - when he wasn't ready - by greedy boxing promoters.

Ramirez is charismatic as Duran and makes you root for this guy who was not the most likeable individual. Usher does a good job as Sugar Ray. Plus, as Arcel, it's De Niro's best performance in years. His scenes with John Turturro as a mob guy who has radically impacted Arcel's life are superb. De Niro's intricate dance of subservience, respect and defiance towards Turturro, along with his caring and mentoring of Duran, is a fine thing to watch.

It's also ironic to watch De Niro as an old boxing trainer, as one can't help but think of a much younger De Niro fighting in the ring himself 36 years earlier in "Raging Bull."

Despite some clichéd moments, it is enjoyable, and I would recommend it for the acting and the historical significance of Duran's story, which deserves to be told.

Neil Rosen’s Big Apple Rating:

Three Apples