Bleed For This
Director: Ben Younger
By Alex Watson
The story of Vinny Paz's comeback is one that is pretty damn incredible and although this picture will likely be closely compared with pictures such as David O Russell's The Fighter, Bleed For This is a movie that just about stands up. Although there is an element of miscasting, overall we have a talented core cast to bring this story to life. Miles Teller has gotten a bad rap in the last couple of years but as Paz, he shows that his talent in Whiplash was no fluke.
Vinny Paz (Miles Teller) is a junior middleweight boxer who has recently claimed his second world title. While out celebrating his involved in a serious car accident which leaves him with a severely damaged neck. Refusing to under fusion treatment and intent on defending his title, Paz leaves his life hanging in the balance. With the encouragement of his alcoholic coach Kevin Rooney (Aaron Eckhart) Vinny begins a monumental comeback.
Starting with Paz's tremendous beating at the hands of Roger Mayweather, Bleed For This has a high energy from the first frame. Mother Louise (Katey Sagal) cowers in the next room clutching a rosary due to her desire not see her son take a beating. Paz is a fighter that few will touch anymore and his trainer Lou Duva (Ted Levine) openly disowns him on live TV. Vinny is a man who doesn't know the meaning of the word stop and although he has a tendency to shoot his mouth off, his tenacity is what draws us to him. Desperate to make the weight for the Mayweather fight, the opening scene sees him covered in Saran Wrap on an exercise bike desperate to make weight. Kevin Rooney is a drunken, pot-bellied man on the downswing after being fired by Mike Tyson and him and Vinny are the only two who can possibly work together. The first bold step Rooney implements is making him go up two weight classes to fight at his natural weight at Junior Middleweight as fighting a Light Welterweight has proven too risky for his health.
Younger smartly pulls the rug under us when we feel most secure and after witnessing Vinny soundly beating feared middleweight Gilbert Dele, his life-altering car accident is truly horrific. Driving to Foxwood's resort with a friend, another vehicle drives into the same lane. Vinny can only cry in horror as the collision occurs. His refusal to give in both is both nerve-racking and gutsy and witnessing the painful installation of his spinal Halo makes us squirm. Every little bump on the head or move he makes could lead to his spinal cord being severed. People's attitude towards him changes and many seem to talk to him as if he were no longer living. When his spine heals, no fighter will touch him as they don't want to be the man who could possibly put him in a wheelchair. Younger saves the worst for last when Vinny has his Halo removed without anesthetic. Each screw removed is like torture to our eyes.
While for the most part Bleed For This is a movie that has its own merits, the depiction of Paz and family never quite rings true. His father Angelo (Ciaran Hinds) is reduced to doing nothing other than talking loudly with a heavy Rhode Island accent. Sister Doreen (Amanda Clayton) is given little more to do than go on foul mouth tirades at her fiancee who loves making elephant statues. Living at home with the clan, they seem to be the stereotypical loud Italian family who frequently eats dinner together. This element gives a hollow ring to what is otherwise is a fast paced and energetic piece. Vinny's comeback fight against Roberto 'Hands of Stone' Duran (coincidentally who had his own biopic piece this year) is a suspenseful affair. Known for his fast and powerful hands, sending Vinny against him sounds like a death sentence. His own personal fight to get there makes him a champion before he even steps in the ring.
After several career missteps including his involvement in the awful Fantastic Four reboot, Miles Teller is starting to claw his way back. As Vinny Paz is a terrific presence and is very much the muscle that movie needs. It is the portrayal of Paz's stubbornness during his time healing that really makes the difference, we feel the pain and suffering but also we sense his fighting spirit will not die out quickly. Aaron Eckhart provides fine support for Teller and as Kevin Rooney, he shows a man who is also attempting fight his way back to the top. A world renowned trainer turned drunk down and out, Eckhart gives the backbone and encouragement the film sorely needs. Sadly wonderful Irish actor Ciaran Hinds is stranded in a miscast role as loud father Angelo.
Bleed For This is a movie that while lacking the punching power of movies like Raging Bull is still a movie that is both exciting and gutsy. Vinny Paz's comeback was exceptional and Ben Younger at the very least has made us see how his pain was worth the journey back.
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