‘The Bleeder’ review [TIFF ’16]

The Bleeder review: Liev Schreiber is at the top of his game as an ageing boxer in this nostalgic, often humourous drama that delights throughout.

The Bleeder review by Paul Heath, TIFF ’16.

The Bleeder opens with a quote from the fictional character of Rocky Balboa,  and then swiftly seq-ways into a title sequence backed by Hot Chocolate’s You Sexy Thing – which pretty much sets up proceedings during The Bleeder for the following 100 minutes or so.

This real-life drama revolves around fighter Chuck Wepner, the real-life inspiration for the original Rocky movie, a film that is referred to many times during the course of this intriguing motion picture. Wepner is possibly most known for taking on Muhammed Ali in the fight which followed the boxing legend’s win over George Foreman in the famous Rumble In The Jungle in 1974. Wepner famously went 15 rounds before losing to the heavyweight champion of the world – a fight re-staged by Stallone for the climactic scenes in his 1970s boxing masterpiece; his Balboa losing out to Apollo Creed.

The Bleeder charts the life, both personal and professional of Wepner post that legendary defeat to Ali – and at one stage even re-creates the time when took to the ring to fight Andre The Giant – and even a bear. Yes, really.

The Bleeder is as much about fame, falling from grace and pure envy as it is to boxing. The film only features that one solitary match in terms of fist-fighting action, the two actors – Liev Schreiber as Wepner and his fellow Ray Donovan co-star Pooch Hall as Ali – both actually landing real-blows on one another to recreate the famous face-off.

Schreiber is terrific as the title character, the nickname coined from the boxer’s tendency to bleed-out during his boxing matches, and one that constantly gets him down. Schreiber also co-writes, produces, and even stars alongside his real-life wife Naomi Watts in the picture, the actress playing barmaid and eventual object of Wepner’s affection, Linda. Ron Perlman also provides huge support as Wepner’s trainer Al Braverman, but the true acting prowess comes from the delightful Elisabeth Moss who plays the boxer’s long -suffering, grounded in reality wife Phyllis, the polar opposite to Wepner’s attention grabbing, fame-seeking prize-fighter, and indeed Sylvester Stallone wannabe. Stallone himself also pops up in the proceedings (played by Morgan Spector) after Wepner goes after the Hollywood star after learning that he was the inspiration behind the 1976 Oscar-winning movie. The resemblance and mannerisms of Spector incarnation of Stallone are uncanny.

The action is well-choreographed with director Phillipe Falardeau (The Good Lie) obviously taking some inspiration from Martin Scorsese by using old film stock, retro-jukebox hits throughout and sporadic freeze-frames – which is no bad thing.

The punches largely land where intended in this surprisingly enjoyable boxing biopic and morality tale, and it’s a delight to see Schreiber allowing himself to venture into a more comedic role following his brooding work on his very successful TV show Ray Donovan. The actor has seemingly thrown himself both mentally and physically into this apparent labour of love which, while in places will have you wincing at some of its subject matter’s exploits and life-decisions, will also have you willing him to succeed.

Another film in a long line of boxing movies to be released in the latter half of 2016 and early 2017, with Hands Of Stone and Bleed For This still to see the light of day. Still, The Bleeder‘s humorous tone, huge watch-ability and nostalgia factor make this an immediate stand-out.

The Bleeder review by Paul Heath, Toronto International Film Festival, 2016.

The Bleeder is currently awaiting a North American and UK release.