Synopsis
Jackie Justice is a mixed martial arts fighter who leaves the sport in disgrace. Down on her luck and simmering with rage and regret years after the fight, she's coaxed into a brutal underground fight by her manager and boyfriend Desi and grabs the attention of a fight league promoter who promises Jackie a life back in the Octagon. But the road to redemption becomes unexpectedly personal when Manny - the son she gave up as an infant - shows up at her doorstep. A triumphant story of a fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out
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Cast
- Halle BerryJackie Justice
- Adan CantoDesi
- Sheila AtimBobbi Buddhakan Berroa
- Danny Boyd Jr.Manny Lyons Jr
- Adriane LenoxAngel McQueen
- Shamier AndersonImmaculate
- Stephen McKinley HendersonPops
- Valentina ShevchenkoLady Killer
- Lela LorenMrs. Bradshaw
- Nikolai NikolaeffIgor
Recommendations
- 75
IndieWire
Bruised isn’t breaking any new ground from a narrative standpoint, but it does show the strength of Halle Berry as a director, boasting a powder keg of dominating performances within a simplistic story. - 63
Chicago Sun-Times
It’s the MMA version of Million Dollar Baby meets Rocky in Halle Berry’s directorial debut Bruised, a well-acted and occasionally involving but overly long, cliché-stuffed sports film that hits all the usual notes and piles on the subplot drama to the point where we’re nearly exhausted by the viewing experience. - 60
Variety
Impressive as Berry’s commitment to the role can be, there’s a mirthless predictability to the whole ordeal. This pro-forma sports drama, which clearly means so much to its creator, unfolds pretty much exactly as you’d expect, leaning hard on pathos, when what it really needs is personality. - 60
TheWrap
It’s a valiant effort from Berry, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark, weighed down by a formulaic script, uneven fight direction, and little depth in exploring how a female fighter’s experience might change when a role written as a white, Irish woman is played by a Black actor. - 60
Los Angeles Times
The superb fight choreography and committed execution by the two women in the ring (real-life UFC champ Valentina Shevchenko is convincing as Jackie’s opponent), informed by Berry’s skill as an actor conveying Jackie’s desperation, make the final fight thrilling and cringe-inducing — in a good way. - 60
The Guardian
Berry brings commitment and focus to the drama. She wins on points. - 50
Screen Daily
For a film that aspires to be a frank look at a middle-aged fighter’s hard road back to glory, Bruised too easily indulges in sports-film fantasy, undercutting the story’s inherent bleakness. - 42
The Playlist
Unfortunately, Halle Berry’s Bruised is a grueling hybrid of your weak, everyday Sundance debut and TV sports movie.
