101 minutes – Drama
Festival release date: September 2, 2016 (Venice)
Release date: May 19, 2017
Canadian distributor: Entract Films
US distributor: IFC Films
Chuck began life as The Bleeder and tells the true story of Chuck “The Bayonne Bleeder” Wepner, who was a liquor salesman and father with a modest prizefighting career. His life changed overnight when, in 1975, he was chosen to take on Muhammad Ali in a highly publicized title match. He lasted a gruelling, bloody, 15 rounds in the ring but knocked Ali down in the 9th round. The match inspired a young Sylvester Stallone, who watched the fight on television, to adapt the basic details of the Wepner’s story for his own breakout star vehicle, Rocky. The fight was also the start of a life that brought Wepner incredible highs and the humbling lows of sudden fame that comes to a complete halt when your 15 minutes in the spotlight goes dark.
Chuck is an American film but included on Northernstars because its director, Philippe Falardeau is Canadian, as are the cinematographer and editor.
Christa Campbell
Lati Grobman
Carl Hampe
Liev Schreiber
Michael Tollin
Avi Lerner
Jeff Rice
Lee Broda
Lonnie Ramati
Steve Shapiro
Monika Bacardi
Andrea Iervolino
Robert Van Norden
Monika Bacardi
Andrea Iervolino
Robert Van Norden
Jeff Feuerzeig
Jerry Stahl
Michael Cristofer
Liev Schreiber
Nicolas Bolduc
Richard Comeau
Corey Allen Jackson
Inbal Weinberg
Gonzalo Cordoba
Kendall Anderson (Set Decoration)
Liev Schreiber
Naomi Watts
Elisabeth Moss
Ron Perlman
Jim Gaffigan
Michael Rapaport
Pooch Hall
Jason Jones
Morgan Spector
Sadie Sink
Zina Wilde
Catherine Corcoran
Angela Marie Roy
Wass Stevens
Liz Celeste
Ivan Martin
Joe Starr
Jen Ponton
William Hill
Mark Borkowski
Mareli Miniutti
Leslie Lyles
Megan Sikora
J.J. Kandel
Melo Ludwig
Marissa Rose Gordon
Georgia Ximenes Lifsher
Rao Rampilla
Chuck Wepner
Linda
Phyliss
Al Braverman
John
John
Muhammad Ali
Stallone
Kimberly Age 11
Roberta
Sandy
Chuck Wepner’s Makeup Artist
ohnny Dicesare
Miniskirt Blonde
Bobby Van
Manny
P.A.
Paddy Flood
Joe
Schoolgirl
Charlotte
Flo Wepner
Jimmy the Cop
Young Kimberly
Penelope
Rachel
Indian Liquor Store Owner
Northernstars.ca is published by the Canadian Independent Visual
and Digital Media Association – A nonprofit corporation.
Toronto, Ontario, M4X 1X7
First published as Northernstars.net February 1, 1998
ISSN 2563 4895