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IMDbPro

Chuck

Original title: The Bleeder
  • 2016
  • R
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
6.7K
YOUR RATING
Liev Schreiber in Chuck (2016)
The real life inspiration for Rocky Balboa, Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber) was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on The Greatest in a highly publicized title match.
Play trailer1:30
3 Videos
19 Photos
BiographyDramaSport

A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who had a once-in-a-lifetime bout with Muhammad Ali that would inspire the film Rocky (1976).A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who had a once-in-a-lifetime bout with Muhammad Ali that would inspire the film Rocky (1976).A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner, who had a once-in-a-lifetime bout with Muhammad Ali that would inspire the film Rocky (1976).

  • Director
    • Philippe Falardeau
  • Writers
    • Jeff Feuerzeig
    • Jerry Stahl
    • Michael Cristofer
  • Stars
    • Liev Schreiber
    • Elisabeth Moss
    • Ron Perlman
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    6.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Philippe Falardeau
    • Writers
      • Jeff Feuerzeig
      • Jerry Stahl
      • Michael Cristofer
    • Stars
      • Liev Schreiber
      • Elisabeth Moss
      • Ron Perlman
    • 32User reviews
    • 75Critic reviews
    • 68Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:30
    Watch Official Trailer
    Chuck
    Clip 1:14
    Watch Chuck
    Chuck
    Clip 0:42
    Watch Chuck

    Photos19

    Liev Schreiber in Chuck (2016)
    Liev Schreiber in Chuck (2016)
    Liev Schreiber in Chuck (2016)
    Ron Perlman, Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss, and Naomi Watts in Chuck (2016)
    Liev Schreiber, Elisabeth Moss, and Sadie Sink in Chuck (2016)
    Liev Schreiber in Chuck (2016)
    Chuck Premiere Los Angeles 2017
    Catherine Corcoran in Chuck (2016)
    Catherine Corcoran in Chuck (2016)
    Marissa Rose Gordon and Steven Shapiro at the premiere of The Bleeder.
    Liev Schreiber and Edward Carnevale in Chuck (2016)
    "The Announcer" in the movie Chuck.

    Top cast

    Edit
    Liev Schreiber
    Liev Schreiber
    • Chuck Wepner
    Elisabeth Moss
    Elisabeth Moss
    • Phyliss Wepner
    Ron Perlman
    Ron Perlman
    • Al Braverman
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Linda
    Jim Gaffigan
    Jim Gaffigan
    • John
    Michael Rapaport
    Michael Rapaport
    • Don Wepner
    Pooch Hall
    Pooch Hall
    • Muhammad Ali
    Morgan Spector
    Morgan Spector
    • Sylvester Stallone
    Jason Jones
    Jason Jones
    • Arty
    William Hill
    William Hill
    • Paddy
    Wass Stevens
    Wass Stevens
    • Johnny Dicesare
    Kelvin Hale
    Kelvin Hale
    • Charlie Polite
    Megan Sikora
    Megan Sikora
    • Flo Wepner
    Emil Tonev
    • Fight Ref
    Georgia Ximenes Lifsher
    Georgia Ximenes Lifsher
    • Rachel
    Catherine Corcoran
    Catherine Corcoran
    • Sandy
    Sadie Sink
    Sadie Sink
    • Kimberly
    Melo Ludwig
    Melo Ludwig
    • Young Kimberly (6 Years Old)
    • Director
      • Philippe Falardeau
    • Writers
      • Jeff Feuerzeig
      • Jerry Stahl
      • Michael Cristofer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Christina Hendricks was cast alongside Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber back in 2011 when the project was announced. Hendricks dropped out while the film was stuck in development and eventually Elisabeth Moss replaced her.
    • Goofs
      Chuck Wepner served his prison time in East Jersey State Prison in Rahway, NJ, not Northern State Prison in Newark, NJ, as depicted in the movie. This is where he met Sylvester Stallone while filming "Lock Up" in 1989.
    • Quotes

      Chuck Wepner: What good was backing up gonna do? Look, my thing was this: I couldn't hit him, so I figured I'd wear him down with my face. It was working great for five or six rounds...

    • Connections
      Featured in The Cine-Masochist: CHUCK WEPNER VS ROCKY BALBOA (2021)

    User reviews32

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    The Bleeder is a period piece of the 1970's. In addition, it is also a strong narrative of the trials and tribulations of Chuck Wepner's life.
    Philippe Falardeau, the acclaimed director of The Good Lie and the Oscar nominated Monsieur Lazhar comes forth with a period piece of New Jersey in the 1970's with a new film, The Bleeder, a drama, starring Liev Schreiber, known for his television role as Ray Donovan in the series "Ray Donovan," and as Marty Baron in last year's Oscar-winning Best Picture, Spotlight. Schreiber portrays boxer Chuck Wepner, the heavyweight champion of New Jersey, and often known more colorfully as the Bayonne Bleeder.

    When he wasn't in the ring, Wepner was a liquor salesman on the mean streets of New Jersey who managed to last 15 rounds in a professional boxing match with the greatest fighter of all-time – Muhammad Ali. Legendary boxing promoter Don King wanted a race fight and sought out a white fighter to get into the ring with the Champ, Muhammad Ali.

    Wepner seemed to be a good choice to be Ali's punching bag. Wepner had a reputation for being able to take a punch. And, true to King's intention, Wepner took a beating. Not as though it was anything new for Wepner. In his ten years as a boxer he had his nose broken eight times, had 133 stitches, suffered fourteen losses and two knockouts. He was once pummeled so badly by Sonny Liston suffering both a broken nose and a broken cheekbone that required extensive stitching to heal.

    Yet, Wepner had managed to put together a string of good fights and began to believe and have faith that his dream of getting a title shot was in reach. While not a great fighter, Wepner was known for his big heart, his ability to take a beating and come back for more. As a matter of record, Wepner became the first man to knock Ali off his feet inside the ring during a title fight. A furious Ali got back up and pulverized Wepner without mercy culminating in the fight ending 19 seconds into the 15th round. Sylvester Stallone based his Rocky franchise on Wepner's life.

    Director Falardeau exquisitely turns what might easily have been another boxing movie into a relationship piece illuminating Wepner's most difficult moments outside the ring. He depicts the 1970's much like Martin Scorcese's Taxi Driver – seedy, wild women, drugs, booze – along with exceptional highs and disastrous lows.

    After Rocky became the hit of 1976 garnering ten Oscar nominations and three wins for Best Picture, Best Director and for Best Editing, Wepner began letting the world of New Jersey nightlife know he was the real life Rocky and to many he was. Jim Gaffigan plays, John Stoehr, Wepner's best friend and loyal steward who is shown as mostly living vicariously through Chuck. A most telling scene occurs when Cinematographer Nicolas Bolduc takes the audience down inside the clubbing world of the honky-tonk, disco era of the 1970's with the fur coats, gold chains, silky rayon tops, sequined gowns, costume jewelry and the dance music of the Bee Gee's. Here Wepner not only succumbs to the temptation of the drugs, booze and casual sex, he ultimately seems to confuse his own life with the screen life of Rocky Balboa as John looks on in giddy bewilderment.

    Soon Wepner decides to confronts Stallone about Rocky. Stallone, played by Morgan Spector, seems genuinely flattered and invites Wepner to audition for a real-life role in Rocky II. A drug infused, boozed up Wepner, blows the audition as his life is now in a virulent downward spiral. Finally, after he shows up late and misses his 2nd grade daughter's Parents Day, his wife, Phyllis, played by Elisabeth Moss calls it quits. Wepner knows he's falling. Yet, he finds a glimpse of hope with a local bartender, Linda, played by Schreiber's real-life wife, Naomi Watts. The two hit it off with some playful banter before the bottom drops out for Wepner and he's sent to prison for drug trafficking. This becomes Stallone's impetus for his 1989 film Lock Up. Wepner is called upon to be a consultant and is shown in shackles and prison garb. Yet, when he sees Stallone staging the story, he realizes his life is not Stallone's version. This is the turning point of the film and for Chuck Wepner. He reconciles with his brother John, played sharply by Michael Rappaport and eventually marries Linda and the two spend the rest of their lives together in close relationship.

    The Bleeder, full of rich costuming and fine cinematography, is at its core a period piece of the 1970's including the role boxing played in the public domain. In addition, it is also a strong narrative of the trials and tribulations of Chuck Wepner's life. It's a life affirming story as Wepner goes the distance and gets the girl in the end. Warmly recommended.
    helpful•41
    7
    • HollywoodGlee
    • Oct 6, 2016

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 5, 2017 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Bleeder
    • Filming locations
      • Sofia, Bulgaria
    • Production companies
      • Millennium Films
      • Mandalay Sports Media (MSM)
      • Campbell Grobman Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $320,725
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $34,565
      • May 7, 2017
    • Gross worldwide
      • $502,518
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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