Bang Bang

Dark, depressing with little redemption. Perhaps an all too honest look at the embers of a once might fire.

On the cast alone, the movie had my attention. Mr Nelson delivers as a burnt out old man...desperately hanging on to the past...including his own delusions.

Depressing.

A final whimpering message putting the blame squarely on Dad.

Pathetic. No Growth. No development just decay.

Of course it is set in the perfect American City...Detroit.

I guess I wanted some hope or some resolution or growth.

While the movie was maybe a 6.5 or 7, Tim Blake Nelson's performance notched it up to a 10 for me. He was 100% believable, raw and real, almost like he wasn't acting at all. His character was addictive, and you couldn't help but cheer him on. All of the cast was excellent as well, not one weak link. The script was real, but a heavy drama. I'm sure many people live like this and the world has more of these stories, than "cinderella" stories. Gritty, dark, but satisfying. Love the hard close ending. Fits the story perfectly. I think that this could have actually been built into a mini series, but then again, that may have destroyed the intense one and done film. I think he should have had an oscar for this role.

Greetings again from the darkness. There is no obvious explanation for my connection to and appreciation of Tim Blake Nelson on the big screen ... well ... other than his talent. He certainly doesn't possess the traditional attributes of a movie star, yet that's exactly what he is. Not only is he one of the most dependable character actors around (see O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU and MINORITY REPORT), but he's also terrific in lead roles (see OLD HENRY and ASLEEP IN MY PALM). With this latest film, director Vincent Grashaw and screenwriter Will Janowitz (who also has a role in the film) benefit from the actor's audacious and fearless performance.

Bernard "Bang Bang" Rozyski (Tim Blake Nelson) is a bitter man. He's also an alcoholic. As a former boxer, he appears to be in a race to the bottom with the area of Detroit in which he lives. Both man and city are crumbling and to add insult, the former boxing rival that Bernard views as the reason for his decline is running for Mayor. Darnell Washington (Glenn Plummer) became rich peddling juicers (not countertop grills) and now holds himself up as a guiding light for a city that needs a reason to exist ... not unlike Bernard.

Bernard's estranged daughter (Nina Arianda) surprises him with a knock on the door and a request to watch her son Justin (Andrew Liner) while she gets settled with a new job in a new city. Justin's ankle monitor prevents him from going with mom until he fulfills his community service. He also shows little interest in Grandpa's philosophical meanderings ... until he learns boxing can lead to money and girls. Bernard begins training him with the help of an old friend (Kevin Corrigan), and it's at this point when we wonder if Bernard's new path is one of redemption or revenge.

While the reasoning may be initially unclear, we have no doubt that Bernard is haunted by the past - and he understands this very well. Fighting, family, and his former house all play a role in his bitterness and frustration. We also understand that things don't tend to get better for a guy like 'Bang Bang'. Although the film covers familiar ground with some recognizable tropes, Tim Blake Nelson's performance and the raw aesthetic of the film keep us fully engaged. His final confrontation with Washington may go a bit over the top, but it reminds us that while a hammer sees everything as a nail, a fighter may very well view everything as a fight ... or at least as the only way to resolve conflict.

The film opens in select theaters on September 12, 2025 (NYC, LA, Detroit, with additional markets TBA), following its premiere at the Tribeca Festival.

I thought this would be your typical comfort boxing movie with the usual tropes and outcomes, which I would have enjoyed regardless, and which seems to be implied as the movie begins. However, instead we are confronted by the searing and broken presence of Tim Blake Nelson, searching for some kind of unattainable redemption. Wonderful, complex character development and a movie that gets better and richer as it progresses. Also a masterful and considered soundtrack which I hope will be available in due course. There are some weak moments in the script, but overall a compelling watch.

From the opening scene of a little skinny guy dancing in his under pants, do not judge this film.

It's not really a boxing film, it's about a failed human being. Marked as a 'Drama', sure, it is that, but there are so many laugh out louds moments, all of which are the products of a bitingly sharp and witty dialogue. EVERY character has their place, this like the lead character is pared to the bone necessary and adds to the rich tapestry.

Film making at its pared down and most effective, bravo.