This small independent production shot on some of the meanest streets of Los Angeles is definitely worth a look. Thomas Haden Church produced and starred in this film about life as a homeless person and some people who look to exploit them.

Church plays a homeless man without hope or any kind of drive to rise above the place fate has put him. He's ripe for a rich punk like Rhys Whitfield who pays $50.00 to a pair of homeless to fight it out like gladiators in ancient Rome. Church starts building a reputation in underground circles. He's the Cardboard Boxer.

Church does a fine job as a man just looking for a bit of self worth. Not unlike Spartacus and in the end things happen in a Spartacus like way. And Whitfield is truly a punk's punk.

This one is a real sleeper, don't miss it.

Fans of Thomas Haden Church will discover a different side to his acting ability in this film in which he portrays a homeless person straddling the fence between rationality and mental illness. It's an effective portrayal that tugs at the emotions throughout the story, as well as arouse your anger with a couple of upper crust elitist kids who get their kicks out of setting up and recording fights between derelicts on the street. The down and out street vibe appears to be handled fairly realistically, as Willie patrols local alleys and garbage dumpsters for food, while hookers ply their trade without interference. Beyond his meager existence, Willie's primary goal is to have and be a friend to someone, perhaps even have someone to love. While Willie does take up the preppy challenge to fight other unfortunates, his heart isn't really in it, at one point contemplating suicidal thoughts when he visits his father's gravesite and sadly remarks "Goodbye Daddy, I'll see you soon". However the movie does require the viewer to make a giant leap of faith at the finale because I don't think the execution of the story quite successfully tied the title character to the little girl burn victim. Presumably she was the writer of the diary, who finds herself in Willie's circle by time and circumstance, and brought by a mentor to see him back on the street. That seemed to run contrary to her upbringing by an abusive uncle, requiring a stretch of the imagination to come full circle. A little bit of a rewrite could have made the connection more effectively.

This movie was just too much emotional. Easily one of the most touching movies i've ever seen. They way everything was portrayed i just went to tears most of the time in the movie specially when he asks to be human shield. No words to describe. Awesome acting and it made me feel as if i have lived as him , as a homeless. When a person lives as a normal person you probably forget about what type of life others might be living. Cardboard Boxer regardless of that titles lets you experience the life by a homeless person's view. Getting attached to the diary and considering it a friend and then pasting an image onto it since you just don't want to be alone. Getting money and feeding the dog just so he could be with you. It was truly a unique experience. It changes the way how you see homeless people out in the streets.