Bleed for This 2016

     This film is based on a true story about World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza.  He was in a near fatal car accident in Connecticut that resulted in a broken neck. Vinny decides he will not have a fusion and he has a halo attached.  This is a device with a circular metal brace screwed into the skull in four spots.  It is also propped up with four metal rods.  Vinny doesn’t want to let go of being a boxer.  Everyone else thinks his career is over.  His doctor is unsure he will walk again and he certainly will never fight again.  Vinny begins training again with the halo and everyone is very worried that he will injure himself further.

     There is a lot of background information about trainers, managers and the set up of fights.  In a final interview Vinny says the biggest lie he was told about boxing is that “it’s not that simple.”  It is that simple if you keep out the people wanting to muddle it all up.  You train, you work, build yourself up, study your opponent and keep your head together in the ring you have a chance for a career.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

117 min, Bio directed by Ben Younger with Miles Teller, Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal, Ciaran Hinds, Ted Levine, Jordan Gelber, Amanda Clayton, Daniel Sauli, Christine Evangelista, Tina Casciani, Liz Carey, Peter Quillin.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, 71% critic 69% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 2 ½*, Amazon 4.4* out of 5* with 125 reviews, Rolling Stone 2 ½* out of 4*.

Special Note:  Filmed in Providence, Rhode Island.  Miles Teller was in a near-fatal car crash just one year before this film and his friend died the accident.  He wears a green bracelet that says “Buckle up for Bo” to honor his friend.  Teller still has facial scars from his injuries and he trained with Darrell Foster.  Darrell trained Sugar Ray Leonard and he worked with Will Smith in his role as Muhammad Ali for Ali of 2001.  Filmed in 24 days on a budget of six million dollars but grossed $6.7 million.  Vinny was hospitalized and diagnosed with ketosis after his first fight.  This is a condition with so little sugar in the body that fat is broken into ketones for energy.  This can be fatal for diabetics but is used for weight loss.  Vinny was also known as The Pazmanian Devil and he won five world titles in three different weight classes.