Teller is appreciably committed to the character, but he's only given one note to play, his full-bodied passion wasted on a movie that would rather win on points than go for the knockout.

Younger jacks up the action in the last third, but the air goes out of a fight movie when you can see the next jab coming.

Bleed for This is still worth seeing, despite its familiar trappings.

Because of Teller's compelling performance and chemistrywith Eckhart, it's hard not to be roused by the film's triumphant finale, but it never transcends the clichés of its genre. It's an often gripping film, but never very insightful.