Bruiser (2022 film)
| Bruiser | |
|---|---|
 Official release poster | |
| Directed by | Miles Warren |
| Written by | Ben Medina Miles Warren |
| Produced by | Aaron Ryder Jewerl Ross Scott Lumpkin Scott Frank Trevante Rhodes |
| Starring | Trevante Rhodes Shamier Anderson Jalyn Hall Shinelle Azoroh |
| Cinematography | Justin Derry |
| Edited by | James LeSage |
| Music by | Robert Ouyang Rusli |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Onyx Collective Hulu |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Bruiser is a 2022 American drama film written by Ben Medina and Miles Warren, directed by Warren and starring Trevante Rhodes, Shamier Anderson, Jalyn Hall and Shinelle Azoroh.
Plot
[edit]Darious is a 14-year-old boy who lives with his father Malcolm and mother Monica. Malcolm urges Darious not to fight or act aggressively towards others, reflecting on his own violent childhood and strained relationship with his father. One day, after getting beaten up in an altercation with another boy, Darious walks into a woodland area and meets a man named Porter, who lives alone in a small boat. Darious and Porter bond, with Porter teaching Darious some self-defense skills.
It's eventually revealed that Porter is Darious's biological father who had abandoned Darious at birth. Now, however, Porter is eager to reconnect with Darious. Malcolm and Monica become aware of this and disprove of Darious forming a relationship with Porter. Malcolm remembers Porter's past, which was full of violence, and he is eager to protect Darious. Nevertheless, Darious and Porter continue to strengthen their bond, and Darious resists Malcolm's attempts to keep them apart.
One night, after a family argument, Darious flees with Porter. Porter insists that he take Darious away from Malcolm and Monica and that they start a new life together, about which Darious appears hesitant. Malcolm eventually tracks the two down by the side of a road, puts Darious in his car, and proceeds to fight with Porter. Malcolm and Porter continue to fight in the darkness of the night as Darious drives the car back home.
Cast
[edit]- Trevante Rhodes as Porter
- Shamier Anderson as Malcolm
- Jalyn Hall as Darious
- Shinelle Azoroh as Monica
- Frank Oakley III as Officer Ron Evans
- Sarah Bock as Mia
- Jonah Bishop-Pirrone as Mike
- Kiah Alexandria Clingman as Sissy
- Moses Jones as Ernest
Release
[edit]The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2022.[1] It was announced that same month that Bruiser was the first narrative feature film to be acquired by Onyx Collective.[2] It was released by Hulu in the United States on February 24, 2023.[3]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 24 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.9/10.[4] Metacritic gave the film a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 based on 10 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5]
Peter Debruge of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote, "Insightful and universal in so many ways, Warren's first feature is a confident if sometimes oblique coming-of-age story from an important new voice..."[6] Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter also gave the film a positive review, calling it "A mellow and compelling spin on a familiar story."[7] Alex Saveliev of Film Threat rated the film a 9 out of 10 and wrote, "Warren's film may leave you bruised, but don't let that stop you from seeking it out."[8]
Accolades
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | AAFCA Awards | Emerging Face | Jalyn Hall | Won | [9][10] |
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Performance | Trevante Rhodes | Nominated | [11] | |
| 2024 | Black Reel Awards for Television | Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series | Nominated | [12] |
References
[edit]- ^ Goldrich, Robert (September 30, 2022). "Director Miles Warren Reflects On "Bruiser," Breakthrough Deal With Disney's Onyx Collective". Shoot. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
The short film resonated with audiences and critics, ultimately yielding the opportunity to create a feature of the same title, which made its world premiere earlier this month in the Discovery section of the Toronto International Film Festival.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 7, 2022). "Miles Warren-Directed 'Bruiser' Acquired By Disney's Onyx Collective Before TIFF Discovery Section Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr.; Grobar, Matt (December 19, 2022). "'Bruiser': Disney's Onyx Collective Sets Hulu Premiere Date For Its First Narrative Feature Starring 'Till's Jalyn Hall & 'Mike's Trevante Rhodes – Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "Bruiser". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
- ^ "Bruiser". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (December 3, 2022). "'Bruiser' Review: A Teen Is Torn Between Violent Role Models in Strong Debut From Gifted New Voice". Variety. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Gyarkye, Lovia (November 7, 2022). "'Bruiser' Review: Trevante Rhodes and Jalyn Hall in a Tender Debut About Fathers, Sons and Masculinity". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Saveliev, Alex (November 8, 2022). "Bruiser". Film Threat. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (January 16, 2023). "African American Film Critics Association Reveals 2023 AAFCA Award Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Marcus (January 16, 2023). "'The Woman King,' 'Black Panther,' Will Smith Among 2023 AAFCA Awards Winners". IndieWire. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ Blauvelt, Christian (March 4, 2023). "'Everything Everywhere' Sweeps 2023 Indie Spirits: Full Winners List". IndieWire. Retrieved April 26, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (June 15, 2023). "Black Reel 7th Annual Television Awards Featuring Gender Neutral Categories Announces Nominations; 'The Best Man: Final Chapters' Leads With 18 Noms". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
