Set in both the late 80's and current day, "Back in the Day" is a gritty tale about Anthony Rodriguez (William DeMeo), a half Italian - half Puerto Rican young teenager growing up on the streets of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn; a then very dangerous and racist neighborhood filled with bullies, big shots and social clubs where all of the neighborhood shots were called. Anthony had to endure an abusive, unemployed, alcoholic father but was blessed with a nurturing, hard-working mother who he loses at a very early age and is devastated by it. In spite of his bitterness, he struggles to uphold the morals his Mother taught him and retain his dignity in spite of being up against all odds. He is taken under the wing of a local mob boss, Enzo DeVino (Michael Madsen), who supports Anthony's wishes to escape his demons through the sport of boxing. Enzo connects Anthony with a trainer (Danny Glover), who means business, and turns Anthony into a contender although his troubled life and friends, who seem to always get him into trouble, hinder his career. As he journeys into adulthood with the nearly impossible goal of achieving a successful professional boxing career, Anthony manages to not only go pro, but literally fight his way to the top and become a world champion middleweight boxer at an unlikely age. But not without love, loss of love, humiliation, retaliation and revenge playing roles in his journey to the top. But when he finally does make it to the top, who will be left of anyone Anthony has ever cared about, to share it with? And who will be left to get in the way of Anthony's success, and living his dream?

《想当年》是一部青春励志片，《想当年》以感人肺腑的情节和清新的影象在国内引起了巨大的讨论热潮，这是一个感染了所有人的故事，《想当年》将年轻人的情感与奋进难能可贵地融合到了一起。剧中既有轻快活泼的感情逸事，又有当代青年独立自强的戏剧描摹。

影评:

1,电影用唯美的画面生动鲜活地传达了甜蜜的惊喜、悲伤结局后的反转，以及这两种情感直戳人心最深处的柔软。苏格拉底曾经说过：“暗恋是世界上最美丽的爱情”。

2,日里想着你，夜里念着你，梦里绕着你，眼里望着你，手里握着你，心里爱着你！

3,影片不仅拥有好故事、好角色，更是一场疯狂的冒险。

4,爱情只要花开的模样，好看也好，坏看也罢，只要是这朵玫瑰花，他和她，都应该让花儿努力地开。因为一生一世的花开，如果只为一个人，那对于爱情来说，是一件美好而幸福的事情啊！

5,这部电影细节铺垫很多，属于越到后面越动人的影片。属于很一般的故事，却贵在真情。全片柔情，真挚的有些像童话。