Bleed for This turns 10 this week. The 2016 American biographical sports film was written and directed by Ben Younger and based on the life of former world champion boxer Vinny Pazienza. Miles Teller stars as Pazienza, with Aaron Eckhart, Katey Sagal, Ciarán Hinds, and Ted Levine in supporting roles. Here are eight production and release details worth knowing.
A reported 45-pound turn as Kevin Rooney
Aaron Eckhart gained a reported 45 pounds for the role of Kevin Rooney. In the story, Rooney is the coach Vinny turns to after he fires Lou Duva. Eckhart appears in support of Teller’s lead performance.
Martin Scorsese joined as executive producer
In 2011, producer Chad A. Verdi sent Noah Kraft to meet with Martin Scorsese after an introduction from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Scorsese agreed to partner with Verdi and Kraft on the project and signed on as an executive producer. By 2012, Verdi and Kraft had hired Ben Younger to write and direct the feature.
Teller trained for five months
Miles Teller trained for 5 months with nutritionist Gary Kobat and trainer Darrell Foster to get in shape for the role of Vinny Paz. He plays the former champion at the center of this fact-based story.
Rhode Island provided the backdrop
Filming started in Warwick, Rhode Island, on November 10, 2014. On December 10, filming took place at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island. On December 16 and 17, filming took place at Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence.
Telluride first, then a wide opening
The film had its world premiere at the 43rd Annual Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016, before screening at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival. Originally scheduled for a limited release on November 4, 2016, it was rescheduled in October 2016 to a wide opening on November 18, forgoing a limited release.
Opening weekend missed early projections
Bleed for This opened alongside Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and The Edge of Seventeen, plus wide expansions. Initially expected to gross around $5 million from 1,549 theaters, it collected less than $900,000 on opening day and debuted to $2.4 million, finishing 8th. In its second weekend it dropped to 17th, grossing $949,898.
Critics were generally favourable
On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating of 70% based on 145 reviews, with an average rating of 6.23/10. Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 62 out of 100 from 34 critics, indicating generally favourable reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of A− on an A+ to F scale.
The real Vinny chose the Halo
After a car crash leaves Vinny with a critical neck injury, doctors say he might never walk again and will certainly never fight again. Against his doctor’s recommendation, he opts for a Halo, a circular metal brace screwed into his skull in four spots and propped up with four metal rods, instead of a spinal fusion. The Halo could allow him to regain neck movement and box again.
Which of these Bleed for This details stuck with you? Tell us your favourite fact from the 2016 boxing drama.
Facts from Wikipedia: Bleed for This, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Film images from TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.