Moviefone Editorial

Tag: boxing-movie

  • ‘The Cut’ Interview: Orlando Bloom and John Turturro

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    Opening in theaters on September 5th is the new boxing thriller ‘The Cut’, which was directed by Sean Ellis (‘The Cursed’), and stars Orlando Bloom (‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring’), John Turturro (‘The Batman’) and Caitríona Balfe (‘Belfast’).

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    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” and John Turturro as “Boz” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” and John Turturro as “Boz” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Orlando Bloom and John Turturro about their work on ‘The Cut’, Bloom’s first reaction to the screenplay and his approach to his character, Turturro’s character’s motivations, the relationship between their characters, and working with director Sean Ellis.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Related Article: Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed Talk ‘Deep Cover’

    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    Moviefone: To begin with, Orlando, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of this character that you were excited to explore on screen?

    Orlando Bloom: It was originally an idea that the producer, Mark Lane had brought to me, and we’d worked together on a film called ‘Retaliation’ years before, and I just thought it was a fantastic, fresh take on a boxing genre movie, which I’m a huge fan of I love. I’m very physical, both in life and as an actor. It’s one of my ways in. I just thought it would be an opportunity to really, burn the book, and just go for it. Like take what was written and what was required was for me to drop this weight. I wanted to do it as believably as possible. I dropped from about 185 pounds to 150 pounds, so I’d lost about 30 pounds. It was almost like no acting required because of what it did to my mind and my body. In fact, we had to shoot the movie in reverse chronological order for me to have any kind of brain capacity to do it. Thankfully, with remarkable actors like John and Caitríona, I had an amazing support network and people to perform off, which was just a real gift.

    (L to R) John Turturro as “Boz” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) John Turturro as “Boz” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: John, can you talk about your approach to playing Boz, his questionable training methods and what he’s willing to do to achieve his goals?

    John Turturro: Well, that’s in the script, but there’s a lot of people who have questionable training methods in sports as we read and discover, in a variety of sports. But I thought it was an interesting exploration and descent into what a person is willing to do to have a second shot. When I got to the set, I knew Sean’s work, and I’m a big fan of Caitríona’s, but to see the battle that is within Orlando, bringing it and putting himself through that, the acting is easy then, because you see where the person is. The whole idea is to get them to understand what that is, to seduce them. The most dangerous people are seductive to get what they need and what they want. You know, that’s the reason they’re hired. I’m always actually very skeptical of people who are seductive initially. I have a real sort of aversion to it. I don’t want to be too friendly in real life, and I know what that is, so that was the job. He really brought it, and he had a vulnerability to him that is easy to step inside. To me, that’s when working on something is interesting, because then you’re like, “Wow, the ball is going to go back and forth.” He really had the big burden on his shoulders, and he did a beautiful job. So, when you see that, you go, “Okay, I want to feed that.”

    (L to R) Caitríona Balfe as “Caitlin” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Caitríona Balfe as “Caitlin” and Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: Orlando, your co-star Caitríona Balfe has described the film as a love triangle, with her character competing with Boz for your character’s love. Do you agree with that and how would you describe in your own words the relationship between these three characters?

    OB: I mean, honestly, that’s credit to the way John took the script and ran with it, because I had read it, it felt a bit more like it was a drill sergeant of a character initially. But John really came in with this fresh take on it that totally transformed the whole movie, I think in such a beautiful way. Obviously, Caitríona plays my life partner and my training partner, and we have this insane codependent relationship. It’s a crazy codependent relationship and you can see where that comes from when you look at the backstory of the Boxer. John’s character Boz, came in and he just seduces Boxer away. As a trainer he understood what the psychology of the character was, and he just takes that and it’s like he waves his magic wand over it and takes him away and then gets him to do anything he can do to get that second shot. It’s like to me, you’re nothing but a poker chip, you know? She loves him too much and the script was brilliantly written. We had the premiere in London and just listening to the lines again, and the way he delivered them, it’s so well-articulated. It’s such a fresh take for a boxing movie. We all love boxing movies, don’t we? I think most people do. At least we do. that’s why we did it. But this is a fresh take on a boxing movie, because the fight’s happening in his head. That’s what it is for most fighters, any athlete, it’s all happening up here. Can I win? Can I overcome, whether it’s tennis, boxing, golf or any sport? It’s all happening up here and that to me, is so unique. That’s where the fight happens. That’s where we win. That’s so transferable to people in life. You know, we’re all battling with our demons, and doing the weight loss did that to my brain. It was almost like no acting required and it required that we shoot the movie in reverse order, because I wouldn’t have been able to think straight let alone act, but I didn’t need to because I was in that headspace, which was a gift.

    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: Orlando, was this role both physically and mentally exhausting for you to play, and how did you deal with that on set?

    OB: I was out of it. It was all the things the Boxer was feeling and going through. I’m not a method actor. I don’t think of myself as a method actor. I just commit, you know? That’s what we do. We love what we do, and we all commit, and in committing to what was required, it was a lot.

    (L to R) Orlando Bloom, Director Sean Ellis and John Turturro on set of the psychological thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (L to R) Orlando Bloom, Director Sean Ellis and John Turturro on set of the psychological thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    MF: Finally, John, what was it like collaborating with director Sean Ellis on set?

    JT: Well, we basically blocked everything out. We talked things through, and he was also shooting it at the same time. But it felt like it was a very collaborative experience all around and a team atmosphere where we were all on the same team. Sean’s carrying a camera at the same time. He’s not sitting at video village, so he’s involved physically in what’s going on, and that’s a very different experience to have that, and it’s a team effort. It really is.

    Director Sean Ellis on set of the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    Director Sean Ellis on set of the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    What is the plot of ‘The Cut’?

    Determined to win a championship title after coming out of retirement, a Las Vegas fighter (Orlando Bloom) begins a grueling training and weight loss regimen under a demanding, unorthodox boxing coach (John Turturro).

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Cut’?

    • Orlando Bloom as the Boxer
    • Caitríona Balfe as Caitlin
    • John Turturro as Boz
    (Center) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, 'The Cut'. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
    (Center) Orlando Bloom as “Boxer” in the Psychological Thriller film, ‘The Cut’. Photo courtesy of Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).

    List of Boxing Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Cut’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Boxing Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘Uppercut’ Interview: Ving Rhames and Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman

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    Opening in theaters, on digital and on demand February 28th is ‘Uppercut,’ directed by Torsten Ruether, and starring Ving Rhames, Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman, Joanna Cassidy, and Jordan E. Cooper.

    ‘Uppercut’ is an English-language remake of the German film ‘Leberhaken,’ with the original movie’s writer/director, Torsten Ruether, and star, Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman, joined in the new version by the legendary Ving Rhames, star of ‘Pulp Fiction,’ ‘Dawn of the Dead,’ and all eight ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies.

    Related Article: ‘Mission: Impossible 8’ will Move From June 2024 to May 2025 in New Delay

    (Left) Ving Rhames as “Elliot” in the thriller 'Uppercut', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate. (Right) Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller 'Uppercut', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (Left) Ving Rhames as “Elliot” in the thriller ‘Uppercut’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate. (Right) Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller ‘Uppercut’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Moviefone spoke with Rhames and Grossman about working together, the differences between the two films, their characters, and how Grossman prepared for the role physically, as well as Rhames thoughts on the upcoming ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning‘ and working with Tom Cruise on the franchise.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Ving Rhames and Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman.

    Ving Rhames as “Elliot” in the thriller 'Uppercut', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Ving Rhames as “Elliot” in the thriller ‘Uppercut’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: Ving, had you seen the original movie? How did this come about for you?

    Ving Rhames: They approached my manager. I read the script. It touched me, and I realized in America, we don’t make films about the human condition, the human experience. This film has a boxing backdrop, but it was about the human condition, the human experience, so that drew me towards the film.

    MF: Luiii, you played the role in the original German version. Aside from this one being in English, how is this version different from the original and did you approach it any differently?

    Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman: I think it’s different in almost every way because I regarded this as a totally new project. I mean, not just because I was working with someone like Ving Rhames, which was also different than in the German movie when I was with a German co-star. Of course, there were parts we took from the original movie to this one. My character still wants to get trained by a boxing legend and so on. But we were shooting this as a New York City story. My character developed also with the addition of the second time layer. So for me, this was a totally new approach compared to the German original.

    Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller 'Uppercut', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller ‘Uppercut’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: What is interesting for you to play a character at two ends of her career?

    LG: I think this was pretty interesting to me, to have this strong female character in the first part where she’s wild, impatient and sometimes even over the top. She’s trying so hard to get what she wants. Then later she’s this young businesswoman in a male-dominated boxing industry. This was something really interesting to me, to have this strong lead and these two time layers that were so different. To be able to bring this together and show the development of the character — that she’s not becoming a professional boxer as you would expect, but becoming a boxing manager, was for me the more interesting approach.

    MF: Ving, what attracted you to the character of Elliot in particular, and how would you describe him and his history as this boxing legend who’s in this very different part of his life?

    VR: Well, as my father would say, there’s nothing like an older Black man. He has nothing to lose, he can be himself, he can say what he wants. So Elliot gave me a lot of freedom and a lot of understanding of my dad really.

    Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller 'Uppercut', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller ‘Uppercut’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: You’ve done your share of movies that have boxing as a background. What do you think makes that backdrop of the boxing world so compelling and able to tell such a wide variety of stories?

    VR: Like people, sports is universal, so I think having that backdrop, there’s a certain amount of fear in sports. You’re either good or you’re not. You either win or you lose, in all sports. So I think something about that element adds to the human experience.

    MF: Luiii, how did your background as an athlete help you prepare for doing the movie and for the training portions of the movie?

    LR: I was a professional athlete in my youth. I did track and field, in particular, and I think having this background helped me because I know my body quite well. I know what I have to do to get in shape. I’m still now working out almost every day. I’d never done boxing before these boxing movies, but I really like the sport and how complex it is. It’s not just about power — it’s so complex and you need your whole presence in this very moment. I found it really interesting. I worked in Germany with a former world champion and she trained with me two weeks and we had really intense training sessions.

    (L to R) Ving Rhames as “Elliot” and Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller 'Uppercut', a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Ving Rhames as “Elliot” and Luiii as “Toni” in the thriller ‘Uppercut’, a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.

    MF: Ving, what was it like doing these very long takes, where it almost seemed like you two were doing a play, especially as opposed to many modern movies that are cut, cut, cut all the time?

    VR: Well, I think a lot of American movies are cut, cut, cut. But whenever I’ve done something international, it’s more about taking your time, getting to know the characters, finding a natural flow, and that’s what I think we did in this.

    MF: Luiii, I think I understand that there was a lot of improvisation between the two of you. Can you talk about that and also working opposite Ving?

    LR: Yes, of course. It was a great honor for me to work with Ving and such a joy, to be honest, because when we first met, there was this openness and this curiosity about each other, and I think this made it easy for us to work. But then we also had the time, really, on set to talk about the scenes beforehand. We talked with Torsten, the director, so there was no pressure. Although we had a lot of pages a day, we could take time for every scene. To have these long takes is a great opportunity to really dive into the moment, into the character. It gave us a lot of freedom to really [connect] with each other.

    (L to R) Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg in 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
    (L to R) Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg in ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.

    MF: Ving, you have another movie coming out this year that’s a bit different from this one. What can you say about ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning’? Does it feel like it’s the last one?

    VR: It does. I had a very good time, enjoyed the full experience. It’s the first time I’ve ever done eight movies with basically the same crew of actors, so that helped me as an actor.

    MF: You and Tom have been the cornerstones of the franchise — the only actors who have been in all eight movies.

    VR: I’m going to have to hand it to Tom because Tom is willing to take a risk. He’s willing to break norms. When I first read the first script, I died in the first 10 pages. I said, “Tom, why is it the Black man always dies in the first 10 pages?” He said, “Yeah, why is that?” So now I just finished number eight, so I thank him.

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    What is the plot of ‘Uppercut’?

    A young female boxer named Toni (Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman) tracks down former boxing legend Elliot (Ving Rhames) in his gym and asks him to train her, leading them to forge an unlikely connection through a long night of getting to know each other – with Toni eventually embarking on a much different future.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Uppercut’?

    • Ving Rhames as Elliot
    • Luise ‘Luiii’ Grossman as Toni
    • Joanna Cassidy as Rita
    • Jordan E. Cooper as Payne
    'Uppercut' opens in theaters on February 28th.
    ‘Uppercut’ opens in theaters on February 28th.

    List of Ving Rhames Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Ving Rhames Movies On Amazon

     

  • ‘Bang Bang’ Interview: Tim Blake Nelson and More

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    Premiering at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival on June 11th is the new boxing drama ‘Bang Bang,’ which was directed by Vincent Grashaw.

    The movie stars Tim Blake Nelson (‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ and ‘The Incredible Hulk’), Andrew Liner (‘Gray Matter’), Glenn Plummer (‘Speed‘), Kevin Corrigan (‘The Departed‘), Erica Gimpel (‘King of New York‘), Daniella Pineda (‘Jurassic World Dominion‘) and Nina Arianda (‘Being the Ricardos‘).

    Related Article: George Foreman and Forest Whitaker Talk Boxing Biopic ‘Big George Foreman’

    Andrew Liner and Tim Blake Nelson in 'Bang Bang'.
    (L to R) Andrew Liner and Tim Blake Nelson in ‘Bang Bang’.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Vincent Grashaw, as well as actors Tim Blake Nelson and Andrew Liner about their work on ‘Bang Bang’, Grashaw’s first reaction to the screenplay and what he wanted to say about the sport of boxing, Nelson’s approach to his character and playing a former boxer, the fight sequences, Liner’s character’s relationship with his grandfather and working with Nelson and Kevin Corrigan, and why Nelson enjoyed making the movie.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Tim Blake Nelson and Andrew Liner.

    Andrew Liner and Tim Blake Nelson in 'Bang Bang'.
    (L to R) Andrew Liner and Tim Blake Nelson in ‘Bang Bang’.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Vincent, can you talk about your first reaction to Will Janowitz’s screenplay and the themes you wanted to explore as a director?

    Vincent Grashaw: The script speaks for itself. As a director, unless you write the thing, which I always feel, you’re a little more naked and probably protective and less collaborative, not even something you’re aware of. I always find you’re a little more guarded, and I don’t like that. That’s why I prefer to read somebody else’s material, fall in love with it, and then take it and bring yourself to it. Will’s script, when you’re reading something like that, you find yourself disappearing in it, and it doesn’t take long. I can gauge my interest based on how long it takes me to read a script based on the page count and how long, and it’s one that I breezed through, and everything happened quickly from there in terms of getting it made. But I was really excited about the boxing aspects to it on top of the intimate characters and their relationships. It was an unexpected direction that the script takes that also just, it kept surprising me, and by the end, you’re throwing the script across the room because you’re just like, “Dude, it’s fantastic.” I think it’s one of those things, as a filmmaker, you see an opportunity and you’re like, “I want to tell the story.” It becomes an obsession almost until it gets done.

    MF: Tim, can you talk about your approach to playing Bernard and what were some of the aspects of the character you were excited to explore on screen?

    Tim Blake Nelson: I’ve never encountered a character quite like this. The swerve to which Vince refers also interested me and recalled the John Huston film ‘Fat City’ and how deeply that movie delved into the aftermath of a career in boxing. I felt that I hadn’t read a script or seen a boxing movie that had those sorts of ambitions. I was very excited to lend myself to that. The big question for me was how credible I could be as this guy, particularly as somebody with a boxing past. Luckily Vince, in addition to being a wonderful director in his own right, regardless of his association with boxing, has a boxing past, comes from a family with boxers in it and has boxed himself. He was able to talk me through not only the simple aspects of the fact that I could have been a lightweight or a featherweight fighter, and in fact it would make perfect sense for my build if I could devote myself to the training, which I was certainly willing to do. But he helped me start to think about the mindset and allowing that to seep in during the training process. Because of Vince, I had the confidence that I was going to be able to fill the character out inside of this rather slight diminutive frame. Then at the time we made this movie, I guess I was 59, and to be able to continue acting at my age, and not only that, but be given a challenge like this, this is why I set out on this career path in the first place. I couldn’t be happier. I’m a lucky soul to have been guided through this character by Vincent Grashaw.

    Tim Blake Nelson in 'Bang Bang'.
    Tim Blake Nelson in ‘Bang Bang’.

    MF: Can you talk about the anger that Bernard carries with him and his obsession with his past?

    TBN: Well, the script is so well written that in the way I was trained way back, as my wife would say in the Mesozoic era, I am guided by the writing and Will Janowitz‘s script supplies an actor with everything an actor needs. Really, I just answered that without ladling a bunch of confusing stuff on top of that. I just played the truth of the character as written, as directed by Vince, refracted through a lot of boxing training and hanging around boxers. In terms of the relationship with the grandson, I had this wonderful scene partner in Andrew who was open, honest, available, professional and everything you’d want in a scene partner. The anger, the love, the disappointment was just all readily there for me to open myself up to it.

    MF: Andrew, can you talk about Justin’s relationship with his grandfather and what he learns from training with him?

    Andrew Liner: I think it’s interesting having Justin be a young man trying to find who he is without a male role model in his life until Bang Bang. The messy weird relationship that Bang and Justin have is in a way cathartic for both because in a way they needed each other and they have a deep love for one another, even though it does get messy because Bang gives Justin purpose. I think that in exploring these characters, I think Tim and I also just were very prepared and got to talk and listen with one another. I think at the end of the day, the writing was so good that there was nothing else needed. You could just talk to one another, and it’ll ring true. Having the characters be so real and so thought out, thanks to Will and Vince bringing those characters to life, the story fell in place. I think that Vince is very specific as well. If he wasn’t getting what he wanted, he would very much explain what exactly he wants. I think through that, it’s hard to mess up. It was a great experience because we all came together and told a story.

    Andrew Liner in 'Bang Bang'.
    Andrew Liner in ‘Bang Bang’.

    MF What was your experience like working with Tim, and what did you learn from him while making the film?

    AL: I learned a lot working with Tim. He’s one of the best actors of his generation, and he pours himself into these characters not only emotionally and spiritually, but physically as well, which is everything that I want to do with what I take to acting. Just picking his brain and seeing how he operates during rehearsals, or asking Vince questions about what the shot is, or asking Will questions about where the character is going in this scene, what the target is, just watching him do his thing. With Bang being the character that he is, it’s daunting and it’s hard. Seeing him obsess over who he is and the relationships, that was a learning experience for me because it got me to a place where I was like, “Okay, I can start trying this. I can start pushing this envelope here, and I’m not so much in a box.” He broke that box down for me.

    MF: Tim, you have some very physical scenes, did you work with a stunt coordinator for the fight sequences?

    TBN: I don’t think I’ve ever been so despised by a stunt coordinator as I was on this movie because I just kept saying, “No, let us just, please don’t worry about us.” I think the guy wanted to kill me. Stunt coordinators, to their credit, it’s their job. I admire it. I fault myself in the way that I was at times with this guy, who’s a perfectly wonderful guy and good at his job. But he was protecting us and really protecting me because Andrew is, he’s like an Adonis and I’m getting a little superannuated. So, he didn’t want me to get hurt, but I’m also in really good shape and I wanted Andrew to be able to whack me. It was that kind of thing. I think the guy very much, I take his side against me on this. I think at times he was just saying, “Would this guy just get over himself and let me do my job?” But I wanted to get whacked and really play the scene, and I didn’t feel that Andrew Liner, the actor, was going to be irresponsible in that scenario.

    Glenn Plummer in 'Bang Bang'.
    Glenn Plummer in ‘Bang Bang’.

    MF: Glenn Plummer, who plays Darnell Washington, has a great speech at the end of the film where he talks about the “truth” behind boxing. Vincent, as a filmmaker, what did you want to say about the sport of boxing with this movie?

    VG: It’s a beautiful seven-minute back and forth between these two, and mainly Glenn speaking, just how things really are. On an intimate level, for me, its exploring what boxers are left with post-career. A lot of times it’s a sad, lonely place. You see it all the time. Boxers don’t know when to retire. Not all of them, but a lot of them aren’t really left with much money. They’re forgotten by an audience that if you were at the height of the sport, it’s a drug. That’s one of the reasons they don’t know when to retire. That was the heart of it. Then, almost all sports are regulated, and they have a commission. As much as boxing does have a state-by-state commission, it’s the wild, wild west. There’s no union, there’s no protections. There was a fighter, not too long ago, he was a young prospect, undefeated, good-looking kid, and he got knocked out in a fight that was six months or three months after a previous time he lost. He wasn’t protected. The athletic commission typically would suspend you after a knockout to give your brain a certain amount of time to recover. He ended up with brain damage and ended up thankfully recovering and being able to live a life. But he’s out of the sport and he was forgotten by his own promoter. You’re done at that point, who do you turn to? He’s got his family and he’s able to live now and have a life. I don’t want to spoil anything, but there was a similarity to the character of Bang Bang’s brother that this guy went through. It just breaks your heart. I wanted to be honest about the sport, really.

    MF: Andrew, you have a scene with Kevin Corrigan where he starts singing spontaneously at the end of a monologue. Was that in the script or something he improvised?

    AL: Yeah, that was in the script and that was also Kevin’s first day, and that was my first day as well. That was the last shot of the day, I think. It was like a crazy experience for me to just sit there and watch and listen and it made my acting job easy because he was so phenomenal. I think it just showcased the bizarre world that they both live in. Also, you feel a lot of what these characters are going through with that scene because Kevin is so emotional and powerful and boosts my ego and tells me how Bang feels about me. It’s not like Justin and Bang are going to go sit, get coffee and be like, “I actually love you so much.” It was a very important scene that not only told Justin, but told the audience that “No, no, no. You got to understand how he looks at you. He looks at you like you’re a king, and he believes that, and that’s why he’s giving you this tough love.”

    Kevin Corrigan in 'Bang Bang'.
    Kevin Corrigan in ‘Bang Bang’.

    MF: Finally, Tim, what was the experience of making this movie and working with Andrew and Vincent like for you?

    TBN: Well, I loved working with Andrew. He was wonderfully open, available, and generous as a scene partner. I couldn’t have asked for a better scene partner. I think he’s going to have an incredible career, and anybody would be lucky to work with him. That was fantastic. I was somewhat involved in the casting process, not with any final decisions, but with a bit of a say-so and certainly supported Vince in his choice of Andrew. It was clear this was going to be a great citizen on the film, and the unknown was what performance he would give, and I think it’s extraordinary. As for Vincent, I’m incredibly grateful to him for trusting me with this role. I credit him very much for guiding what the performance is and for giving me the space and wherewithal to give him what he needed for his movie. I think Vince is going to make some extraordinary films in his life, and I hope I’m a part of them.

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    What is the plot of ‘Bang Bang’?

    Retired pugilist Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski (Tim Blake Nelson) is inspired to try his hand at training once he reconnects with his estranged grandson (Andrew Liner). While their training brings Bang Bang out of the hole he’s been living in, everyone questions his motivations, including an ex-girlfriend (Erica Gimpel) from decades ago, who was privy to Bang Bang’s meteoric rise in the sport in the 80s as well as the rivalry with his former opponent, her cousin and Detroit’s Mayoral candidate Darnell Washington (Glenn Plummer). Is Bang Bang merely passing down inherited rage, or is there true altruism behind his tutelage?

    Who is in the cast of ‘Bang Bang’?

    • Tim Blake Nelson as Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski
    • Glenn Plummer as Darnell Washington
    • Kevin Corrigan as John Eton
    • Andrew Liner as Justin
    • Nina Arianda as Jen
    • Erica Gimpel as Sharon
    • Daniella Pineda as Officer Flores
    Tim Blake Nelson in 'Bang Bang'.
    Tim Blake Nelson in ‘Bang Bang’.

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  • Where To Watch The Boxing Action-Drama ‘Creed III’

    Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed III.'
    Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed III.’ © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved. Creed is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Michael B. Jordan’s Adonis Creed faces off against Jonathan Majors’ Damian Anderson in ‘Creed III’. This movie also serves as Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut who has been starring in the sports franchise since 2015.

    Following the events of 2018’s ‘Creed II’, Adonis “Donnie” Creed is considering retirement as the undisputed Heavy Weight Champion of the World when his childhood friend and former boxing prodigy Damian “Dame” Anderson comes back into his life, throwing everything into disarray. The film puts the two former friends at odds and Donnie will have to fight in the most emotional match yet.

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    ‘Creed III’ stars Michael B. Jordan (‘Black Panther’) as Adonis “Donnie” Creed, Jonathan Majors (‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’) as Damian “Dame” Anderson, Tessa Thompson (‘Thor: Love And Thunder’) as Bianca Taylor, Wood Harris (‘Blade Runner 2049’), and Phylicia Rashad (‘tick, tick… BOOM!’).

    The official synopsis for ‘Creed III’ is below:

    “After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damien Anderson, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damien – a fighter who has nothing to lose.”

    ‘Creed III’ opened to $58.3 million domestially, $22 million more than ‘Creed II’. It is certified Tomatoe-meter fresh with a 89% score from critics and 96% from audience. The third installment has grossed $272 million worldwide since it’s release.

    Michael B. Jordan As A First-Time Director

    Director Michael B. Jordan on the set of his film 'Creed III,' A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    (L to R) Director Michael B. Jordan on the set of his film ‘Creed III,’ A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Ser Baffo. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved. Creed is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Helming a popular franchise such as ‘Creed’ is no easy task, yet Michael B. Jordan took on the challenge of being both the lead of the film and stepping behind the camera to direct. The star’s impressive resume and dedication shows as the film balances its action, heart, and humor extremely well.

    Jordan kept the tone from the the previous ‘Creed’ films such as the action and redemption arc while adding his own flavor like utilizing slow-motion in the ring. This helped emphasis each punch and by using it sparingly, it didn’t make it feel like a gimmick. Jordan’s love of anime can also be seen in his directorial style. The actor has spoken about his love for animes such as ‘Naruto’, ‘Dragonball Z’, and ‘One Piece’, and using it as a visual reference for some of the fight scenes.

    Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau light the actors in such a unique and abstract way for the final match, using colors like red and green to emphasis what they’re feeling as they made their walk toward the ring. Morgenthau worked with Crafty Apes, the VFX team, to map out the final moments and by using a motion-control camera, the fight was immersive and distinctive.

    With a stellar box office and reception, a “Creed-verse” may not be too far off. According to Deadline, Jordan has met with Amazon to explore other ‘Creed’ related projects. No details are confirmed but there are talks of spin-off projects such as an anime series, live-action TV series, and even a story centered on Donnie’s daughter Amara, played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent. A spin-off movie based on Rocky’s nemesis Ivan Drago and his son Viktor Drago has also been announced. The possibility is endless when it comes to the Creed/Rocky universe, which is quite exciting for fans of the franchise.

    Where Is Rocky?

    Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in 'Creed II.'
    (L to R) Sylvester Stallone and Michael B. Jordan in ‘Creed II.’

    Director Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors Talk Sequel ‘Creed III’

    One thing that was mising from ‘Creed III’ was Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa. Although Rocky has constantly been in Donnie’s corner in each movie, this is the first film in the ‘Creed’ saga to not feature the character. They do mention his name once during the film but Rocky’s whereabouts was not clear, so what happened?

    Although Stallone created the characters in the original ‘Rocky’, he sold the rights to producer Irwin Winkler and MGM in order to have the first film made, therefore he has no real say in the future of the franchise. Stallone did not agree with the direction Winkler wanted to take with the franchise, and felt it was too dark.

    “That’s a regretful situation because I know what it could have been. It was taken in a direction that is quite different than I would’ve taken it. It’s a different philosophy — Irwin Winkler’s and Michael B. Jordan’s. I wish them well, but I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space. I just feel people have enough darkness.”

    We don’t know whether Stallone will return to the franchise, but his absence was definitely noticeable as someone who had been a mentor for Donnie since the first ‘Creed’ film.

    Where Can I Watch ‘Creed III’?

    Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson in 'CREED III.'
    (L to R) Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson in ‘CREED III,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Eli Ade. © 2022 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The film premiered in Mexico City on February 9, 2023 and released theatrically in the United States on March 3, 2023. It is the third film in the ‘Creed’ franchise and the 19th film in the ‘Rocky’ saga. ‘Creed III’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 56 minutes. You can still experience the boxing action-drama in theaters. Be sure to check below for showtimes in your area.

    Buy Tickets: ‘Creed III’ Movie Showtimes

    Watch the official trailers for ‘Creed III’ below:

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    Prefer to watch experience the movie from your home? You’re in luck. ‘Creed III’ is now available to rent or purchase digitally on the Amazon streaming service, Prime Video as of April 1, 2023.

    Where To Watch: ‘Creed III’ Online

    It is also available to purchase digitally:

    Buy ‘Creed III’ On Amazon

    Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed in 'Creed III,' A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
    Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed in ‘Creed III,’ A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Photo credit: Eli Ade. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved. Creed is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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    To watch our exclusive interviews with Michael B. Jordan and the cast of ‘Creed III,’ please click on the video player below.

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