Bleed for This - The story of the most ambitious comeback in sporting history (may contain spoilers)
I like true stories and films based on fact. This is a fairly standard boxing documentary, but the difference here is the determination depicted. The premise follows a period in a boxer's life towards the end of their run, an inspirational story that defines the word "determination".
Right at the beginning we see our hero Vinny Pazienza at a weigh-in but subsequently loses the fight in the next scene. The loss leads him to be put in touch with a washed up trainer. After being convinced to moves up 2 weight categories he trains, and wins.
The story outside the ring is the majority of the drama, especially the near fatal car accident where he brakes 2 neck vertebrae and is told that not only would he never box again, he might not even walk again. The doctor fits him with a "halo" (basically, a metal neck and head brace). Only 5 days after the accident, and wearing the "halo", he starts secretly training, bench pressing, and weight training in his basement. His coach helps him when he realises how serious his ambition is to fight again.
Only a year after the accident we see him not only fit, but fit enough to fight Roberto Durant. I didn't know the outcome of the fight before the film but (big surprise) he wins, this feels a bit like the film "Rocky". Though this isn't really a "Rocky" rip off, you can't help recognising some "Rocky" style themes, for instance, the stereotypical Italian family and cliché people around him making fight deals.
I'm disappointed that scorsese has produced a film with such a "happy ever after" ending – but it's based on a true story so I can't really criticise the predictable conclusion.
Not bad, not great but very watchable.
7/10.
Right at the beginning we see our hero Vinny Pazienza at a weigh-in but subsequently loses the fight in the next scene. The loss leads him to be put in touch with a washed up trainer. After being convinced to moves up 2 weight categories he trains, and wins.
The story outside the ring is the majority of the drama, especially the near fatal car accident where he brakes 2 neck vertebrae and is told that not only would he never box again, he might not even walk again. The doctor fits him with a "halo" (basically, a metal neck and head brace). Only 5 days after the accident, and wearing the "halo", he starts secretly training, bench pressing, and weight training in his basement. His coach helps him when he realises how serious his ambition is to fight again.
Only a year after the accident we see him not only fit, but fit enough to fight Roberto Durant. I didn't know the outcome of the fight before the film but (big surprise) he wins, this feels a bit like the film "Rocky". Though this isn't really a "Rocky" rip off, you can't help recognising some "Rocky" style themes, for instance, the stereotypical Italian family and cliché people around him making fight deals.
I'm disappointed that scorsese has produced a film with such a "happy ever after" ending – but it's based on a true story so I can't really criticise the predictable conclusion.
Not bad, not great but very watchable.
7/10.
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