Bleed for This (2016)

The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sport's most incredible comebacks.

Director:

Ben Younger

Writers:

Ben Younger (screenplay by), Ben Younger (story by)

Stars:

Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Miles Teller	...	Vinny
Aaron Eckhart	...	Kevin Rooney
Katey Sagal	...	Louise
Ciarán Hinds	...	Angelo
Ted Levine	...	Lou Duva
Jordan Gelber	...	Dan Duva
Amanda Clayton	...	Doreen
Daniel Sauli	...	Jon
Christine Evangelista	...	Woman in Caesar's Hotel Room
Tina Casciani	...	Heather
Liz Carey	...	Charity - Woman Freaked out by Halo
Denise Schaefer	...	Leigh
Peter Quillin	...	Roger Mayweather
Jean Pierre Augustin	...	Gilbert Dele (as Jeanpierre Augustin)
Edwin Rodriguez	...	Roberto Duran

Storyline

On November 1988, Vinny Pazienza boxes Roger Mayweather for the WBC World Light Welterweight Title. He arrives late to the weigh-in, as he has been riding a stationary bicycle in order to make the weight limit. Vinny's final weight is 140 pounds even, which qualifies him for the fight. Instead of resting up for the fight, Vinny spends the night at a casino. The following day, he loses to Mayweather. At one point during the fight, Vinny is hit after the bell. His boxing manager Lou Duva causes a scene by going after Mayweather, but is punched as a result. Following the match, Duva tells the media that Vinny should retire from boxing. This angers Vinny's father Angelo (who serves as his coach), and he confronts Duva. In the ensuing argument, Vinny announces that he wants another fight, and hires Kevin Rooney as his coach..

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Plot Keywords:

comeback | broken neck | boxing | male objectification | rhode island | 

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Taglines:

This is what the greatest comeback in sports history looks like

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexuality/nudity and some accident images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

18 November 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Paz: The Vinny Pazienza Story

Filming Locations:

Dunkin' Donuts Center - 1 La Salle Square, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,366,810, 18 November 2016, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$4,847,865, 2 December 2016

Company Credits

Production Co:

Verdi Productions, Magna Entertainment, Bruce Cohen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan worked together in 2 films (That Awkward Moment and Fantastic Four) and both of them have portrayed boxers in films (Bleed for This and Creed) respectively.

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Goofs

Quick glimpse of the basketball game Vinny is watching in bed is clearly not the 1990s.

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Quotes

Female Reporter: People are calling this one of the most unlikely comebacks in sports history. What do you attribute it to?
Vinny Pazienza: Hum... Yeah, I don't know. I had a lot of help.
Female Reporter: But you've also had a lot of adversity. You've had issues with management, conflicts of interest...
Vinny Pazienza: Yeah, well, the boxing world looks shiny from the outside. It's filled with promises that... Most of them turn out to be lies. You can't rely on anyone.
Female Reporter: So what would you say the biggest deception was? What was the biggest lie you were told?
Vinny Pazienza: [...]

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Crazy Credits

In the first part of the end credits, footage of the real people is shown.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jason Segel/Michael B. Jordan/Big Sean/Brad Wilk (2015)

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Soundtracks

Fighting Duran
(uncredited)
Written by Julia Holter

User Reviews

A not so glorious but incredible comeback story.

Ben Younger has been rather quiet in recent years with a short directorial filmography, Boiler Room being one of my favourite films, that being released sixteen years ago. Younger writes, screenplays and directs this true story of one of the greatest comebacks in not just boxing history, but in the history of sport itself.

Vinny Pazienza, now legally know as Vinny Paz was the IBF World Lightweight Champion and then later the WBA World Jr. Middleweight Champion but had to relinquish the championship belt due having his neck broken in a near fatal car accident being told by doctors that he may not walk again, let alone fight again.

Miles Teller portrays Paz meticulously, giving yet another powerful performance possibly equal to his Whiplash, being undecided. He portrays the painful struggle back to recovery and beyond with the almost medieval Halo brace Paz had screwed into his skull for three months, yet this did not deter his training much to the protests of the doctors, family and friends.

It's got great performances from Aaron Eckhart, who plays legendary boxing trainer, Kevin Rooney, and Ciarán Hinds who plays his devoted father, going through the motions of glory to guilt, both having to deal with the decisions Paz makes which makes you question what you would do as friend or parent. Support him which could essential kill him? I think Eckhart is going for an Oscar nomination here.

It's well paced and focuses more on Paz himself as oppose to the fights that are very well choreographed and captured. There's impressive editing especially empathising the pain of both surgery, recovery and the blows, actually make some parts of the film uncomfortable to watch.

There's a good, gentle score from Julia Holter that enforces the emotional strong of the story; and is accompanied by a selection of eighties classics with a few tracks from the eccentric Willis Earl Beal giving a moody bluesy mode to the film. Check out the track "Too Dry To Cry."

It's great because, yes, it is a boxing movie, but it's about getting back up, fighting the only real adversary of self doubt, especially when everyone, and I mean everyone from friends and family tell you no. Having the courage and determination to not accept defeat, or is it delusional to believe in yourself, knowing the risks. Either way, it makes a grand basis for an incredible story of the ultimate comeback.

Running Time: 9 The Cast: 9 Performance: 9 Direction: 9 Story: 9 Script: 8 Creativity: 8 Soundtrack: 8 Job Description: 8 The Extra Bonus Points: 0 Would I buy the Bluray?: Yes, going next to Cinderella Man and The Hurricane.

77% 8/10