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Bleed for This

also known as “Paz: The Vinny Pazienza Story”
MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA) for language, sexuality/nudity and some accident images.
Moral Rating: not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults
Genre: Sports Biography Drama
Length: 1 hr. 56 min.
Year of Release: 2016
USA Release: November 4, 2016 (limited)
November 18, 2016 (wide—1,549 theaters)
DVD: February 14, 2017
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Relevant Issues

Overcoming personal tragedy

Featuring Miles Teller … Vinny Pazienza
Aaron Eckhart … Kevin Rooney
Ciarán Hinds … Angelo Pazienza
Ted Levine … Lou Duva
Katey Sagal … Louise Pazienza
Christine Evangelista … Ashley
Allie Marshall … Sport Reporter / Fight Attendee
Gia Skova … Duran Ring Girl
Amanda Clayton … Doreen Pazienza
Tina Casciani … Heather
Portland Helmich … Reporter at Weigh-In
Liz Carey … Charity
See all »
Director Ben Younger
Producer Verdi Productions
Magna Entertainment
See all »
Distributor Open Road Films
Copyrighted, Open Road Films

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash, which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again, made one of sports most incredible comebacks.

BLEED FOR THIS is the incredible true story of one of the most inspiring and unlikely comebacks in sports history. Miles Teller (Whiplash, Divergent) stars as Vinny “The Pazmanian Devil” Pazienza, a local Providence boxer who shot to stardom after winning two world title fights. After a near-fatal car accident leaves Vinny with a severed spine, doctors tell him he may never walk again. With the help of renowned trainer Kevin Rooney (Aaron Eckhart), Vinny becomes a legend when he not only walks again, but miraculously returns to the ring to reclaim his title belt only a year after the accident.”

Violence: Moderate / Profanity: Extreme / Sex/Nudity: Extreme

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Movie Critics
…has the fight stuff… the movie gets you rooting… [3]
Ty Burr, The Boston Globe
…a boxing movie that gets boxing… In paying scrupulous but unobtrusive attention to pertinent details, Ben Younger, Miles Teller and the rest of the cast, make “Bleed for This” more than an inspiring version of Pazienza’s story. …
Glenn Kenny, The New York Times
…a comeback times two… The film's finest scenes are of a Vinny, a man built to hit things, wired with steel so that he can't touch anything let alone jab it. …
Jake Coyle, Associated Press
…a rough, tough, somewhat familiar boxing drama… soaking the viewer in a convincingly moldy, sweaty, tawdry environment…
Todd McCarthy, The Hollywood Reporter
…lacks punch… You can’t shake the sense that the real Vinny Paz is far more fascinating than this basic boxing biopic. [2½/4]
Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service
…boring, miscast film… Miles Teller boxing biopic is flattened by cliché… [2/5]
Henry Barnes, The Guardian
…an amazing story with too much edge… some strong, graphic lewd content…
Ted Baehr, Movieguide

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