Why Bruiseds Reviews Are So Mixed

Why Bruised’s Reviews Are So Mixed

Halle Berry’s directorial debut, Bruised, is now on Netflix. But critics seem to have mixed reactions to the film. Here’s why critics are divided.

You Are Reading :[thien_display_title]

Why Bruiseds Reviews Are So Mixed

Halle Berry’s film Bruised has received a mixed reaction from critics. Among the plethora of movies releasing this winter is Halle Berry’s directorial debut for Netflix. Bruised stars the actor as Jackie Justice, a disgraced former MMA fighter whose son—who she’d given up as an infant—suddenly reenters her life and helps her find redemption in the ring.

The Academy Award-winning actress has certainly had a mixed career in terms of the reception to her films, ranging from major critical hits such as Monster’s Ball (85%) and X-Men (82%), to critical duds such as Catwoman (9%) and Movie 43 (4%). And with her first directorial effort, Bruised, Berry has found herself in an odd middle ground between these two extremes.

At the time of writing, Bruised sits at 57% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 37 reviews, which is considered a mixed reception. Those who have given Bruised a positive review point out Halle Berry’s performance as the movie’s strongest element and the reason to seek it out. Along with her performance, some have been praising her direction and claim she elevates the material of a typical sports drama. Here’s what some of the positive reviews have to say:

The Wrap:

“Berry’s strongest asset as a director is her innate love for every single character in the film. She sees them all, and in every frame, she and director of photography Frank G. DeMarco (“A Mouthful of Air”) caress her actors with the camera.”

See also  How To Save Your Samsung Cloud Files & Photos Before Its Too Late

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.”

Los Angeles Times:

“Berry’s willingness to go to dark places and her generosity toward her cast — allowing each of them moments to shine — can only be promising signs for the burgeoning filmmaker.”

With Bruised being Halle Berry’s first attempt to branch out and prove her talents elsewhere in the industry, it looks as though she was won over a fair few critics in this regard. However, many critics are not on board with the story or screenplay, saying it’s just all too familiar and too cliched, and the film just isn’t as engaging as it should be. Here’s what some of the negative reviews for Bruised have to say:

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.”

New York Post:

“Berry wears two hats effortlessly. Her direction is gritty and assured, and her leading performance hasn’t lost an ounce of that star quality — to simultaneously be so weak and so strong — that won her an Oscar for Monster’s Ball. The only reason you like this hot mess of a person is that it’s Berry who plays her. Next time, put it to better use in a movie with some originality.”

See also  Harry Potter The Dursleys 10 Best Quotes

THR:

“Despite the ambition of her directorial debut and some skillful scenes, Bruised probably won’t be remembered for much beyond reminding audiences of Berry’s enduring strength in front of the camera.”

Based on this mixed reception to Bruised, it seems that Halle Berry’s directorial debut just doesn’t quite live up to the sum of its parts. But at its best, these reviews seem to indicate that Berry gives a stunning performance and shows a lot of promise as a director, despite the lackluster script. So while not particularly bad, it sadly seems that Bruised just doesn’t quite live up to its own potential for greatness, according to critics.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/bruised-movie-reviews-divisive-rotten-tomatoes-reason/

Movies -