Plenty of notable films have been made about scrappy, wannabe boxers, which is probably why Canadian filmmaker Philippe Falardeau has no trouble resting heavily on the laurels of Rocky and Requiem for a Heavyweight throughout his latest effort, the biopic Chuck. That decision to coast on already established conventions might have made another film seem tedious, but makes perfect sense when talking about Chuck Wepner. His favourite movie was Requiem for a Heavyweight, and in 1975 the unlikely heavyweight sensation became the unlikely inspiration for Sylvester Stallone’s Oscar winning crowd pleaser.
Liev Schreiber
Award winning French-Canadian filmmaker Philippe Falardeau knows that he sounds like an odd choice to helm an American period piece about a rough around the edges, hard living boxer from the 1970s, but for the Liev Schreiber starring Chuck (opening in Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, and Sherbrooke this Friday) he turned out to be the perfect fit.
New this week on store shelves: Sam Worthington stars as the demi-god Perseus in the action-adventure, Clash of the Titans; plus a look at Repo Men, starring Jude Law and Liev Schreiber.
Opening this week in theatres, Angelina Jolie stars in the spy-thriller, Salt, as a CIA agent trying to get to the bottom of a massive Russian plot to destroy America. Plus, a look at the family-friendly Ramona And Beezus, starring Joey King.
New this weekend in theatres: Jude Law stars in the futuristic action adventure, Repo Men; Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston buddy up for the romantic comedy, The Bounty Hunter; plus a look at the kid-friendly comedy Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and the IMAX film Hubble 3D.
Out this week on DVD, Daniel Craig drops the machismo of Britain’s 007 for the bitter cold of Eastern Europe as he plays a man trying to save a group of refugees in Defiance; He’s Just Not That Into You features an all-star cast attempting to bring real life to the pages of a popular self-help book; and we take a quick look at Fanboys, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, and Revolutionary Road.
Opening in theatres, Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the mutant Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Matthew McConaughey stars in the romantic comedy Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.
On May 1, Hugh Jackman stars in the fourth X-Men film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine.
Set 20 years before the events in the first film, Wolverine further explains the origins of the razor-clawed hero, giving fans their first glimpse of his past, and some of his mutant friends.