The Bleeder

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1:29

The Bleeder

R,

2017,

1h 41m,

Biography/

History/

Drama

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Chuck: Trailer 1

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82%

82 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

1,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

He was the pride of Bayonne, N.J., a man who went 15 rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali. But before all of that, Chuck Wepner was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on Ali in a highly publicized title match. It's the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame, but what happens when your 15 minutes in the spotlight are up?

Critics Consensus

Chuck is hit with a handful of sports biopic clichés but ultimately punches above its weight, largely thanks to a muscular performance from Liev Schreiber.

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Barry Hertz

Globe and Mail

May 19, 2017

3/4

It may not go the distance, but it's surely worth a step into the ring.

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Bruce DeMara

Toronto Star

May 18, 2017

3/4

Liev Schreiber is top-notch in the lead role in this funny, sad and warm cautionary tale.

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Marjorie Baumgarten

Austin Chronicle

May 18, 2017

3.5/5

The film tells an achingly true story about chasing dreams and letting them slip through your hands, as well as the gravitational forces that cause one's life to seek its own level.

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Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

Aug 13, 2021

3.5/5

[A] bruising biopic...

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Sarah Brinks

Battleship Pretension

Dec 15, 2020

Chuck is a solid addition to the boxing movie subgenre. It, of course, borrows some imagery and tropes from previous films but it tells a complete and compelling story...

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Leigh Monson

Substream Magazine

Sep 24, 2020

4/5

Chuck exists on the other side of a coin, showing the dark reality of Rocky's idealized fantasy. That alone is enough reason to pay attention to the tragedy of Chuck Wegner.

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Kylo R

Apr 2, 2019

Liev Schrieber gives a heavyweight performance in this bittersweet and honest biopic about Chuck Wepner, the big dumb lug who was the real life inspiration for the film Rocky. That said, between his addictions, infidelities, and overall self-destructive nature, this man had a much more in common with The Raging Bull than Italian Stallion.

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Hagrid P

Jan 29, 2019

Here's a boxing film that might fight itself into your top ten sports movies. Director Philippe Falardeau hits all the right notes: gets knockout performances from the entire cast, jabs and weaves a moving story, and lands a convincing production set in 1970s New Jersey.

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Abraham S

Oct 28, 2018

I didn't like it as much as I'd hoped but Chuck or The Bleeder is a decent biopic despite its slow pace.

Abraham R

Sep 9, 2018

An indie drama, Chuck tells the story of the real life Rocky, Chuck the "Bayonne Bleeder" Wepner. The film follows professional Philadelphia boxer Chuck Wepner who gets a shot at the heavy weight boxing championship with Muhammad Ali, and soon after learns that Hollywood has made a film inspired by the fight and his life, and becomes obsessed with the film and rides its fame. Liev Schreiber gives a really strong performance, as does Naomi Watts. And the script has a nice pace and does a good job at using a first person narrative. However, it's a little underdeveloped; not going too much into his boxing career or substance abuse issues. Also, the plot is kind of familiar; following a typical biopic formula with a rise, a fall, and a redemption. Yet despite its problems, Chuck is an interesting and cautionary tale about the dangers of reflected glory.

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Jul 9, 2018

I enjoyed the movie. I really liked it

Anakin L

Apr 20, 2018

Perfectly acted and extremely believable - well played.

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Philippe Falardeau

Director

Liev Schreiber

Chuck Wepner

Elisabeth Moss

Phyliss

Naomi Watts

Linda

Ron Perlman

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Chuck: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

He was the pride of Bayonne, N.J., a man who went 15 rounds in the ring with Muhammad Ali. But before all of that, Chuck Wepner was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career whose life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on Ali in a highly publicized title match. It's the beginning of a wild ride through the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of sudden fame, but what happens when your 15 minutes in the spotlight are up?

Director: Philippe Falardeau
Producer: Liev Schreiber, Michael Tollin, Carl Hampe, Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman
Screenwriter: Jeff Feuerzeig, Jerry Stahl, Michael Cristofer, Liev Schreiber
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Mandalay Sports Media, Jeff Rice Films, Campbell Grobman Films
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Drug Use|Sexuality/Nudity|Some Bloody Images)
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 5, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 10, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $320.7K
Runtime: 1h 41m

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