THE BRAWLER
US, 2018, 95 minutes, Colour.
Zach McGowan, Amy Smart, Taryn Manning, Joe Pantoliano, Burt Young, Jason James Richter, Nick Loeb, Anthony Mangano, Jerrod Page.
Directed by Ken Kushner.
This is the story of boxer, Chuck Wepner. He has to be one of the least attractive subjects for a feature film, ambitious yet erratic, potential yet self-indulgent and ruining his life. Another film was made about him, two years earlier than this film, Chuck, The Bleeder (his nickname). It had a very strong cast with Lee Schreiber in the central role, and an upmarket supporting cast including Naomi Watts, Elizabeth Moss, Ron Perlman, Jim Gavigan and Michael Rappaport. It was directed by Philippe director of Monsieur Lazar and My Salinger Year. It would be the preferred version to watch.
Zach McGowan plays Wepner, showing his physical strength but also his self destructiveness. The film does sketch in some background of his growing up in New Jersey, fighting, his aggression and joining the Marines, leaving the Marines and working as a security tough for Mafia bosses, going back to boxing, his being caught up in professional boxing with his coach, and interventions from entrepreneur, Don King. He is set up to have about with Mohammed Ali (who mocks Wepner, especially in a press conference). Wepner, surprisingly, goes the time with Ali – which leads to the inspiration for Sylvester look Stallone and the character of Rocky.
The film shows Wepner’s family life, his womanising, estrangement from his wife, Phyllis. He is praised by Stallone, referring to him as the inspiration for Rocky. Wepner attends an audition, at Stallone’s request, for a role in Rocky 2 to but is aggressive towards the producer. With his reputation and popularity because of his boxing and the bout with Ali, as Well Is Rocky, Wepner goes down the rocky road of fame, wealth, drinking, womanising, and cocaine. He is eventually arrested with cocaine with intent to sell. He spends two years in prison. The earlier film does not take up the scam that Wepner was involved in, fake signing of sports memorabilia. The film shows sympathy from Linda who becomes his second wife, believing in him even during his prison years. However, not in the previous film, she comes up with the idea of suing Stallone for exploiting Wepner’s reputation. There are vigorous interchanges between lawyers, Stallone and Wepner – with his ultimately winning his case and the final glimpse of Wepner and Linda living in luxury.
Not particularly well-written or acted, the film gives something of the background of the character, his situations – and his unlikeability.
