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Bruised (film)

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Bruised
Official release poster
Directed byHalle Berry
Written byMichelle Rosenfarb
Produced by
Starring
Narrated byHalle Berry
CinematographyFrank G. DeMarco
Edited by
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release dates
  • September 12, 2020 (2020-09-12) (TIFF)
  • November 17, 2021 (2021-11-17) (United States)
Running time
138 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11 million[2]

Bruised is a 2020 sports drama film starring and directed by Halle Berry in her directorial debut, who also served as the producer. It co-stars Shamier Anderson, Adan Canto, Sheila Atim, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Adriane Lenox. The screenplay was written by Michelle Rosenfarb.

Bruised had its world premiere at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2020 and was later released in select theaters and on Netflix in November 2021. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Berry's directing and acting, but criticized the screenplay, and inconsistent tone of the film. Following its release, viewership on Netflix generated a multi-picture deal for Berry.[3]

Plot

[edit]

Four years after forfeiting a major fight, former UFC fighter Jackie "Pretty Bull" Justice lives with her boyfriend and manager, Desi, in inner-city Newark. Earning a living as a housecleaner, Jackie relies on alcohol to cope with the tedium of her daily life. Desi pushes Jackie to start fighting again, but she refuses, angrily blaming him for mismanaging her career.

Desi takes Jackie to an illegal underground match, hoping to sign a new fighter. Recognized, the "Werewolf" provokes her into fighting. When Jackie finally loses her temper, she pins the Werewolf down and headbutts her unconscious. Catching the eye of Immaculate, a local promoter of the all-female MMA league Invicta Fighting Championships, he recruits Jackie and sets her up with Bobbi "Buddhakan" Berroa and Pops, his best trainers, to get back into fighting shape.

Heading home, Jackie and Desi are pulled over by Jackie's estranged mother Angel who has brought Manny, Jackie's six-year-old son who she has not seen since he was an infant. Manny has been placed into her custody after his father, Jackie's former boyfriend, was killed in a shooting. The trauma caused Manny to stop speaking entirely.

Manny moves in with his mother, and Jackie, under Buddhakan's guidance, slowly gets back in shape. Immaculate convinces her to sign a contract with him excluding a manager; infuriating Desi, but they eventually patch things up. Growing closer to Buddhakan, Jackie learns she is also a mother, but has not seen her child in over two years following the breakdown of her marriage.

Jackie enrolls Manny into school while learning to be a mother, even dumping all of her alcohol down the sink. However, Jackie's relationship with Desi deteriorates, until he finally snaps, smashing Manny's keyboard and hitting Jackie in the face when she tries to stop him. Jackie leaves him for good with Manny. Angel reluctantly allows them to move in with her until the fight.

Jackie is pitted against Lucia "Lady Killer" Chavez, Invicta FC's flyweight champion, in an Atlantic City title bout. Immaculate claims the fight is to get Jackie back into the UFC, but he later angrily admits he recruited her as a can against Chavez.

Jackie suffers a panic attack, reliving the memory of her last fight. Manny tries to comfort her, but she screams at him to go away. He runs off, and a stranger brings him to Angel. Already on bad terms with her daughter (as Jackie accused her of letting her boyfriends and Jackie's uncle rape her as a child), Angel scornfully tells Jackie she is an unfit mother and that she will take over caring for Manny.

With no one else to turn to, Jackie starts living with Buddhakan, throwing herself into her training. Confessing her fears of returning to the ring, they kiss and become intimate. However, when Buddhaken asks her to consider becoming official, Jackie admits she is not ready and Buddhakan goes on a bender, ending up hospitalized the day before the fight.

With only Pops in her corner, Jackie enters the fight against Chavez distracted, so the champion dominates the first round. In the second and third rounds, her confidence builds as she wears down Chavez and wins over the audience. In the fifth and final round, Jackie matches Chavez blow-for-blow, ending in a split decision, where Chavez narrowly retains her championship. Despite this, she and the audience celebrate Jackie's successful comeback.

After reconciling with Buddhakan, Jackie goes back to Angel's, promising them she is going to get their own place. The women part on good terms. As they walk down the street, Jackie stops to help Manny tie his shoes and he speaks to her for the first time, accepting her as his mother.

Cast

[edit]

Additionally, MMA referee Keith Peterson cameos as himself for the referee of the final fight between Jackie and Lady Killer and UFC fighter Yves Edwards plays a commentator.[7]

Controversy

[edit]

Reportedly, on August 16, 2021, the MMA star and former UFC fighter Cat Zingano filed a lawsuit against Berry, Bruised Film Productions LLC, Thunder Road Film Productions Inc. and Romulus Entertainment LLC in Los Angeles Superior Court, seeking damages based upon claims of promissory estoppel. Zingano states that Berry had offered her a role in the film during a meeting in July 2019. According to Zingano, after she was offered a UFC fight slated for October, which would put her in title contention, she was advised by Berry not to take it for insurance reasons. She turned down the fight and was subsequently released by UFC in August 2019. Zingano further alleged that Berry informed her shortly afterwards that she could not appear in the film, as only current UFC fighters were allowed to take part. The suit also states that Berry ceased all communication with Zingano following the incident.[8]

Court papers filed in November 2021, by Berry's attorneys, state that Zingano lost her UFC contract due to her poor record in the organization. The documents also allege that she made the decision to appear in the film without knowing what role she would play or how much would she be paid and did so based upon text message exchanges with Berry. According to Berry's attorneys, Zingano does not state what her damages are and that she is improperly seeking punitive damages.[9]

Production

[edit]

Initially, Nick Cassavetes was slated to direct the mixed martial arts film Bruised written by Michelle Rosenfarb and produced by Guymon Casady, Basil Iwanyk, Linda Gottlieb, and Erica Lee.[10] Blake Lively was originally cast as the main character in the film.[10] On September 11, 2018, Halle Berry took over directing Bruised, making it her directorial debut, and replaced Lively as the main character in the film.[11] On December 4, 2019, Shamier Anderson and Adan Canto were cast in the film.[12] On December 16, 2019, Sheila Atim was cast in the film.[13]

Principal photography began in November 2019, in New Jersey. Filming locations included the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City[14] and a boxing gym in Newark.[15] During filming, Berry suffered a minor injury, with filming being suspended for a few days.[15] Production resumed on November 27.[16] Production concluded on December 20, 2019.[17]

The film's score was composed by Terence Blanchard and ASKA (Aska Matsumiya).[18][19]

Release

[edit]

In September 2020, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film for around $20 million.[20] The film's world premiere was held at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2020.[21] The film also screened at AFI Fest on November 14, 2021.[22] It had a limited theatrical release on November 17, 2021,[22] prior to streaming on Netflix on November 24.[23]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 50% of 94 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Bruised isn't as hard-hitting as its title might suggest, but Halle Berry impresses on either side of the camera in her directorial debut."[24] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 52 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[25]

Peter Hammond of Deadline Hollywood wrote that "there is no question Berry has thrown it all against the wall with this one and acquitted herself admirably, not just as you might expect acting-wise from the Oscar-winning star of Monster's Ball but also behind the camera. She keenly navigates a female-driven story of a disgraced MMA fighting superstar trying to claw her way back to the top while putting the pieces of her shattered personal life back together."[26]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards March 18, 2022 Best Actress Halle Berry Nominated [27]
Black Reel Awards February 27, 2022 Outstanding Director Nominated [28]
Outstanding Emerging Director Nominated
Outstanding Actress Nominated
Outstanding Editing Jacob Craycroft, Terilyn A. Shropshire Nominated
Outstanding Original Song "Automatic Woman" (H.E.R., Van Hunt and Brittany Talia Hazzard) Won
NAACP Image Awards February 26, 2022 Outstanding Independent Motion Picture Bruised Nominated [29]
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Halle Berry Nominated
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture Danny Boyd, Jr. Won
Sheila Atim Nominated
Satellite Awards April 2, 2022 Best First Feature Halle Berry Won [30]
Toronto International Film Festival September 21, 2020 Rising Stars Award Sheila Atim Won [31]
Women Film Critics Circle December 11, 2021 Courage in Acting Award Halle Berry Won [32]
Josephine Baker Award Bruised Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Bruised". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  2. ^ "Bruised (2020)". IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  3. ^ "Halle Berry Strikes Multi-Picture Deal With Netflix As Directorial Debut 'Bruised' Hits #1 In U.S." Deadline. November 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Russian, Ale (April 23, 2020). "Halle Berry Says She 'Broke Some Bones' Filming with UFC Champ Valentina Shevchenko". People. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Halle Berry has inspiring message for kids on Atlantic City movie set". November 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "'Bruised' review: Halle Berry makes directorial debut as Newark fighter". November 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "The best (and worst!) MMA movies of all time". USAToday.com. November 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Maddaus, Gene (August 17, 2021). "Halle Berry Sued by MMA Star Cat Zingano Over 'Bruised' Film Role Snub".
  9. ^ "Fighter Cat Zingano Sues Over Claims Halle Berry Got Her Fired From UFC In 2019". November 17, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Mike Fleming Jr; Diana Lodderhose (May 15, 2017). "Blake Lively To Star In Nick Cassavetes' MMA Title 'Bruised' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  11. ^ McNary, Dave (September 11, 2018). "Halle Berry to Make Directorial Debut on MMA Drama 'Bruised'". Variety. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  12. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro; Amanda N'Duka (December 4, 2019). "Halle Berry MMA Feature 'Bruised': Shamier Anderson & Adan Canto Step Into Ring For Oscar Winner's Directorial Debut". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  13. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (December 16, 2019). "Iliza Shlesinger, More Join 'Pieces Of A Woman'; Pooch Hall Cast In 'Cherry'; Halle Berry's 'Bruised' Adds Sheila Atim – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  14. ^ Bilinski, Molly (November 12, 2019). "'It is possible': Halle Berry inspires Atlantic City youth during filming for 'Bruised'". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Bennett, Anita (November 19, 2019). "Halle Berry Suffers Minor Injury On 'Bruised' Set – Production Briefly Delayed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Harmata, Claudia (November 27, 2019). "Halle Berry Returns to Bruised Set One Week After Being Injured During Fight Scene Filming". People. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  17. ^ Berry, Halle (December 20, 2019). "Today's #FitnessFriday is extra special to me, because it's the FINAL shooting day of #BruisedTheMovie". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "Terence Blanchard to Score Halle Berry's 'Bruised'". Film Music Reporter. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  19. ^ "Aska Matsumiya Scoring Halle Berry's 'Bruised'". Film Music Reporter. July 6, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  20. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 11, 2020). "Toronto 2020 Starts With Knockout: Netflix In Final Talks To Acquire Halle Berry-Directed MMA Drama 'Bruised' In 8-Figure WW Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
  21. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (June 24, 2020). "Toronto Film Festival Reveals Plan For Slimline 2020 Edition With Mix Of Physical & Digital Screenings; Kate Winslet, Idris Elba & Mark Wahlberg Movies Among First Wave". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Farber, Stephen (November 14, 2021). "Halle Berry in 'Bruised': Film Review - AFI 2021". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
  23. ^ Sollosi, Mary (August 5, 2021). "Halle Berry-directed MMA drama Bruised gets fall release date". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  24. ^ "Bruised". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  25. ^ "Bruised Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  26. ^ Hammond, Pete (November 14, 2021). "'Bruised' Review: Halle Berry Directs Herself Into No-Holds-Barred Portrayal Of MMA Fighter Looking For Redemption – AFI Fest". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 14, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
  27. ^ Tapp, Tom (January 11, 2022). "AARP The Magazine Announces Movies For Grownups Nominees, Including TV & Streaming Categories". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  28. ^ "The 2021 Black Reel Awards (BRAs) Nominations". Next Best Picture. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  29. ^ Spivey, Kemberlie (January 19, 2022). "2022 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: The Full List". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  30. ^ "2021/2022 Schedule". International Press Academy. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  31. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival sets 2020 plans. It won't look the same". Los Angeles Times. June 24, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  32. ^ Benardello, Karen (December 13, 2021). "Women Film Critics Circle Honors Passing and The Power of the Dog Amongst 2021's Best Movies". Shockya.com. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
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