Bleed for This tells the true story of famed pugilist Vinny “Paz” Pazienza and his legendary comeback to the sport after suffering from career-ending neck injury. Miles Teller (Whiplash) plays Paz, a man never willing to give up on a fight in the ring, let alone the fight for his life and career.
Nicknamed “The Pazmanian Devil”, Paz was a five-time world boxing champion who once was knocked down three times in a six-round fight against Roy Jones Jr. in 1995 only to get back up every time regardless of the fact that his face had been beaten to an unrecognizable pulp. After taking home the light middleweight title in 1991, Pazienza was nearly fatally injured in a car accident that led to a debilitating neck injury. His doctors said it would be a close miracle for him to even walk again, let alone fight. This did not stop Paz for a moment, however, as he built up his strength, continued to train little by little every day and came back to boxing to win one last championship for himself.
Teller embodies this resiliency and grit already in the film’s first trailer. If his head turning performance in Whiplash wasn’t a clear indication of the actor’s ability for uninhibited intensity and focus in his character, it looks as though this role will do the trick.
Bleed for This also stars Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for Smoking) as Pazienza’s trainer as well as Katey Sagal (TV’s Married with Children) and Ciaran Hinds (Frozen) as his parents. Directed by Ben Younger (Boiler Room) and produced by Martin Scorsese, the film will hit limited release on November 4 before its wide release on November 23, right in the thick of awards season offerings. Check out the trailer below, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
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