Chuck

2017
6.5| 1h41m| R| en| More Info
Released: 05 May 2017 Released
Producted By: Das Films
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/chuck
Synopsis

A drama inspired by the life of heavyweight boxer Chuck Wepner.

... View More
Stream Online

Stream with AMC+

Director

Producted By

Das Films

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Konterr Brilliant and touching
Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible
Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.
Rightintool Tool Tribute As a former boxer, an aficionado of boxing movies wanted to like this movie more than I did. That said, the overall story, the acting, the angle was actually very very very good. The biggest problem I had was the soundtrack trying to ground it as a period piece that too often not only overshadowed the actors but worse, drowned them out. This movie was about the nuance's of Chuck Wepner's life that shaped him. That was a great build in telling a realistic story and not making the character too villainous nor too sympathetic. Basically human. Those drowned out nuances unfortunately for me diluted the potential strength the film could have provided.
lavatch The date is March 23, 1975. The place is the old Cleveland Colosseum arena. The big event is a humdrum boxing tuneup for Muhammad Ali after his stunning defeat of George Foreman in Zaire. The patsy, who was expected to be dispatched by Ali in three rounds, is the "Bayonne Bleeder," Chuck Wepner. It turns out that Wepner will be remembered for one moment in the ninth round when he surprising sent Ali to the canvas on the seat of his pants. One of the film's themes is that Wepner is the prototype of Rocky Balboa. But was the life depicted in the film a match with the screen icon conceived by Sylvester Stallone? It is not clear that Stallone was inspired by Wepner for the Rocky films. Indeed, the screenplay for "Chuck" makes it clear that that the classic Anthony Quinn film "Requiem for a Heavyweight" has all of the elements of "Rocky." More to the point, the characterization of Wepner in "Chuck" bears little resemblance to the character of Rocky Balboa. In one defining moment in the film, Wepner lies to a young woman that he was paid $70,000 by Stallone for the rights to tell his story. When caught in the lie, Wepner tells his best friend that he didn't want to look like a "chump" in the eyes of the young woman. Throughout the film, we see a profile of a chump more than a champ.The film was especially successful in the screen writing. The dialogue was lively, especially in the characterization of Wepner's feisty wife Phyllis (Elizabeth Moss). Wepner, as performed effectively with a hangdog look by Liev Schreiber, is portrayed on a downward spiral with his horrendous life decisions that earns him twenty-six months in the Northern State Prison of Newark as a drug dealer.The cinematography of "Chuck" was successful in evoking the 1970s through a sepia glaze. The film actually had the look and feel of "Rocky." And Schreiber, who contributed to the screenplay, courageously portrayed a character who was not very likable. Instead of having the eye of the tiger, the Chuck Wepner in this film had the blood-shot eye of the Bayonne Bleeder. In the end, Schreiber leaves us with an unforgettable portrait of a journeyman boxer and a failed pursuit of the American Dream.
Michael Ledo This is a biopic of the life of Chuck Wepner (Liev Schreiber). Chuck was the top ranked boxer in New Jersey when Don King needed a "white guy" for Ali (Pooch Hall) to fight. Chuck was the only top 10 white fighter at the time. He manged to go the distance in a defeat inspiring Stallone (Morgan Spector) to script "Rocky." The fight, which normally would be the climax of a film comes in at about 30 minutes as we follow the self destruction that ensues.The film includes some historical clips. The film is more of a drama than a boxing flick. There is no musical training period for the fight and it only has ring highlights. Acting and accents were good.Guide: F-word, sex, and nudity.
Hollywood Glee (Larry Gleeson) Philippe Falardeau, the acclaimed director of The Good Lie and the Oscar nominated Monsieur Lazhar comes forth with a period piece of New Jersey in the 1970's with a new film, The Bleeder, a drama, starring Liev Schreiber, known for his television role as Ray Donovan in the series "Ray Donovan," and as Marty Baron in last year's Oscar-winning Best Picture, Spotlight. Schreiber portrays boxer Chuck Wepner, the heavyweight champion of New Jersey, and often known more colorfully as the Bayonne Bleeder.When he wasn't in the ring, Wepner was a liquor salesman on the mean streets of New Jersey who managed to last 15 rounds in a professional boxing match with the greatest fighter of all-time – Muhammad Ali. Legendary boxing promoter Don King wanted a race fight and sought out a white fighter to get into the ring with the Champ, Muhammad Ali.Wepner seemed to be a good choice to be Ali's punching bag. Wepner had a reputation for being able to take a punch. And, true to King's intention, Wepner took a beating. Not as though it was anything new for Wepner. In his ten years as a boxer he had his nose broken eight times, had 133 stitches, suffered fourteen losses and two knockouts. He was once pummeled so badly by Sonny Liston suffering both a broken nose and a broken cheekbone that required extensive stitching to heal.Yet, Wepner had managed to put together a string of good fights and began to believe and have faith that his dream of getting a title shot was in reach. While not a great fighter, Wepner was known for his big heart, his ability to take a beating and come back for more. As a matter of record, Wepner became the first man to knock Ali off his feet inside the ring during a title fight. A furious Ali got back up and pulverized Wepner without mercy culminating in the fight ending 19 seconds into the 15th round. Sylvester Stallone based his Rocky franchise on Wepner's life.Director Falardeau exquisitely turns what might easily have been another boxing movie into a relationship piece illuminating Wepner's most difficult moments outside the ring. He depicts the 1970's much like Martin Scorcese's Taxi Driver – seedy, wild women, drugs, booze – along with exceptional highs and disastrous lows.After Rocky became the hit of 1976 garnering ten Oscar nominations and three wins for Best Picture, Best Director and for Best Editing, Wepner began letting the world of New Jersey nightlife know he was the real life Rocky and to many he was. Jim Gaffigan plays, John Stoehr, Wepner's best friend and loyal steward who is shown as mostly living vicariously through Chuck. A most telling scene occurs when Cinematographer Nicolas Bolduc takes the audience down inside the clubbing world of the honky-tonk, disco era of the 1970's with the fur coats, gold chains, silky rayon tops, sequined gowns, costume jewelry and the dance music of the Bee Gee's. Here Wepner not only succumbs to the temptation of the drugs, booze and casual sex, he ultimately seems to confuse his own life with the screen life of Rocky Balboa as John looks on in giddy bewilderment.Soon Wepner decides to confronts Stallone about Rocky. Stallone, played by Morgan Spector, seems genuinely flattered and invites Wepner to audition for a real-life role in Rocky II. A drug infused, boozed up Wepner, blows the audition as his life is now in a virulent downward spiral. Finally, after he shows up late and misses his 2nd grade daughter's Parents Day, his wife, Phyllis, played by Elisabeth Moss calls it quits. Wepner knows he's falling. Yet, he finds a glimpse of hope with a local bartender, Linda, played by Schreiber's real-life wife, Naomi Watts. The two hit it off with some playful banter before the bottom drops out for Wepner and he's sent to prison for drug trafficking. This becomes Stallone's impetus for his 1989 film Lock Up. Wepner is called upon to be a consultant and is shown in shackles and prison garb. Yet, when he sees Stallone staging the story, he realizes his life is not Stallone's version. This is the turning point of the film and for Chuck Wepner. He reconciles with his brother John, played sharply by Michael Rappaport and eventually marries Linda and the two spend the rest of their lives together in close relationship.The Bleeder, full of rich costuming and fine cinematography, is at its core a period piece of the 1970's including the role boxing played in the public domain. In addition, it is also a strong narrative of the trials and tribulations of Chuck Wepner's life. It's a life affirming story as Wepner goes the distance and gets the girl in the end. Warmly recommended.