Vigilantes & The Bleeder (Chuck)

This week the Bad Dads take a pounding with The Bleeder (2016), the Liev Schreiber-led biopic of Chuck Wepner — the Bayonne brawler whose improbable 15-round fight with Muhammad Ali inspired Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky. The film charts Wepner's rise from club fighter and liquor delivery man to brief, cocaine-fuelled celebrity — and his long, self-inflicted fall back down again.The Dads discuss:·         Liev Schreiber's committed central performance and the stacked supporting cast (Naomi Watts, Elisabeth Moss, Ron Perlman, Jim Gaffigan)·         The film's tonal debt to Boogie Nights — same era, same cocaine, same gravitational pull·         Why The Bleeder is more entertaining than it is illuminating, and whether that's enough·         Chuck Wepner's actual boxing record, the real Ali fight, and the legendary grizzly bear incident·         The Stallone connection: Rocky, the botched Rocky II audition, and the money Wepner never saw Also this week:·         Top Five Vigilantes — featuring Travis Bickle, Batman, V for Vendetta, The Boondock Saints, Law Abiding Citizen, Nobody, Death Wish (1974), Rolling Thunder, Kick-Ass, The Punisher, Harry Brown, and Miss Marple·         Viewing chat: Beef (Season 2, Netflix) | The Boys (Season 5) | Apex (Netflix)·         Walking football season update: Played 18, Won 14, Drew 2, Lost 1 — and a cup final incoming Films/shows mentioned: The Bleeder (2016), Rocky (1976), Boogie Nights (1997), Beef (Season 2), The Boys (Season 5), Apex (2025), Death Wish (1974), Rolling Thunder (1977), Law Abiding Citizen (2009), Nobody (2021), Kick-Ass (2010), Super (2010), The Punisher, Harry Brown (2009), V for Vendetta (2005), Inglourious Basterds (2009), Hard Candy (2005), Promising Young Woman (2020), Taxi Driver (1976), The Equalizer, Mad Max (1979), Taken (2008)You can now text us anonymously to leave feedback, suggest future content or simply hurl abuse at us. We'll read out any texts we receive on the show. Click here to try it out!We love to hear from our listeners! By which I mean we tolerate it. If it hasn't been completely destroyed yet you can usually find us on twitter @dads_film, on Facebook Bad Dads Film Review, on email at [email protected] or on our website baddadsfilm.com. Until next time, we remain... Bad Dads