Chuck

source: Chuck

I watched this at home on DVD from y public library. I am only a few years younger than Chuck Wepner, I vaguely remember him in his prize fighting exploits in the 1970s. I mostly remember George Foreman and Cassius Clay, who later became Muhammad Ali. But Wepner was right in there for a while, although never in their league. This movie is about Chuck Wepner who came up in the working class life of New Jersey. He was a big guy and had a reputation for (1) being able to take punches and (2) bleeding a lot. He was the heavyweight champion of New Jersey and really had no greater ambition. Until Don King called Wepner's manager to set of a fight with Ali. Liev Schreiber at 6' 3" is the right size and really good as Chuck Wepner, a real selfish jerk who treated his wife and others badly. But his big claim to fame is Stallone's "Rocky" was inspired by Wepner's exploits in the ring. Wepner got no money for it but was offered a role in one of the "Rocky" movies but, having turned to sniffing cocaine, was unable to handle the small role. Wepner did serve time in prison for drug sales, he ostensibly learned a lesson and became a better man. The movie itself is well made but Chuck Wepner is not that interesting a person. Of note, Naomi Watts has a role, as Linda, who Wepner apparently ended up with. In real life Schreiber and Watts were once engaged and they in fact have two children together even though they never married and are now apart. Interesting development!

Greetings from Lithuania. "Chuck" (2016) is a superbly crafted and acted true story about a boxer who inspired "Rocky". I loved performances in "Chuck" by simply everyone. Everyone did a great job. Directing and writing were also very solid, because at running time 1 h 35 min this movie never dragged. Overall, "Chuck" story does look familiar and formulaic, but its a great craftsmanship and acting that kinda makes this movie surely not be missed one.

Liev Schreiber gives a great performance as Chuck Wepner. He actually makes Chuck look like a wayward but charming kid. 'The Bayonne Bleeder' so called because he easily got cut, managed to land a title shot with Muhammad Ali in 1975 as Ali wanted to fight a top white contender. Wepner then found fame of sorts later as Sylvester Stallone supposedly based Rocky on Wepner. A nobody who lands a world title shot. After the fight with Ali, Chuck's life spirals downwards with drugs, booze and partying. His wife (Elisabeth Moss) unhappy with his womanising finally has enough and leaves him. Chuck hits rock bottom when he is set up for a drug bust. You get the feeling once the Ali fight is done with, the film is over. After that it really is Chuck acting stupid and immature. A story that applies to hundreds of boxers. Director Philippe Falardeau gives this film a strong period setting, he also brings out good performances from the actors that includes Ron Perlman and Naomi Watts.

Sylvester Stallone's Rocky series has been widely acclaimed and become a cornerstone of Hollywood's iconic cultural history. However, the man who inspired this famous series remains much more of a mystery. "Chuck" is a Sports bio-pic that tells the story of Chuck Wepner, the former professional boxer who is most well-known for going toe to toe with heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali in a 1975 title fight. Wepner lost the fight against Ali, but the fighter lasted nearly fifteen rounds in the ring with the world's heavyweight champion. This famous fight was what inspired Sylvester Stallone to create the film "Rocky" in 1976. Chuck is a good move for a number of reasons. The plot is fresh and the movie's narration that dictates the story of Chuck Wepner is both clever and humorous. The movie doesn't take itself too seriously. In fact, it goes out of its way to make fun of movies and Hollywood in general. This is the greatest aspect of the film which willfully recognizes that Hollywood is a world of its own. Rocky is a billion dollar franchise that is recognized around the globe. However, Chuck Wepner, the man who Rocky was based off of, received little if any reward from the film series. While the first Rocky ends after the fight between Rocky and Apollo Creed, Chuck's life goes on, even after the Rocky series takes the world by storm. The majority of "Chuck" is about the rise and fall of a boxer who once had a chance to take the heavyweight championship of the world. In the spirit of raging bull, "Chuck" depicts the athlete at the heart of the film as a deeply flawed individual who is as unfaithful to his wife as he is to his own values. The end of Chuck's boxing career was also the end of his prospects. After a series of unfortunate choices, Chuck ends up being incarcerated. Upon his release he meets the women of his dreams and ends up marrying her. At the final moment of the film, the real-life Chuck can be seen with the women he met after leaving prison at his advanced age. Despite everything the man has witnessed and been through, in 2016 he is still alive and kicking. A fighter till the end. At its core, "Chuck" is a comedy masquerading as a sports film. While there is plenty of comedy, there are some rare moments of sporting thrill. My favorite scene is when Chuck narrates to the audience on-screen during his fight with Ali, "he'd already closed both my eyes, broke my nose, and he was still dancing circles around me. I didn't care. I was just happy to be in the ring with him. I don't remember much after that, except trying to stay on my feet. I could feel him hitting me. No pain, just the thud of his fists. Bone on bone. Boom. Boom".

Saw this great little gem last night. Gritty story, well acted.

The bad: the leading character (the boxer) looks ridiculous. And he is meant to look cool. Yiha. More bad: this movie is a wannabe cool boxing movie, but it is only copying every cliche in the book. It's boring. Going nowhere. It's not even funny Fortunately only 32 reviews were written. Let's keep it that way. Let's forget this was ever made...

This film could've been great but it just flies along with no back story and no regard for the viewers lack of knowledge on Chuck Wepner at all. It's just a shallow portrayal of a boxer. I'll choose to watch Rocky any day of the week. "Real Rocky Balboa" or not. Oh except Rocky V... it doesn't count.

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.