By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 09/24/2025
Who’s Bang Bang?
Bang Bang is a film about retired boxer Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski, portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson, who delivers an outstanding performance that captures his character’s angst. The story kicks off with Bang Bang visiting an old boxing rival at a town hall meeting for his political campaign. He cleverly bypasses security by using a wheelchair and is armed with a gun. The rival, Darnell Washington, is now a formidable political figure and a candidate for mayor of Detroit.
Bang Bang discovers a renewed sense of purpose when his daughter drops off his grandchild, allowing him to be a role model. However, his intentions go beyond being a father figure; he encourages his grandchild to pursue boxing, the very sport that destroyed his own life. With ulterior motives in mind, he puts the gun away temporarily and decides to use his grandchild as a pawn in a twisted game.
Directed by Vincent Grashaw and written by Will Janowitz, “Bang Bang” isn’t just another boxing movie. While I’ve seen many, this film takes a fresh approach and offers a touching and eye-opening post-glory narrative. The cast includes notable actors like Tim Blake Nelson , Glenn Plummer (“Gifted” and “Imperial Dreams”), Kevin Corrigan (“The Departed” and “Goodfellas”), Nina Arianda (“Being the Ricardos”), Andrew Liner (“Ransom Canyon”), Erica Gimpel, and Daniella Pineda (“The Accountant 2” and “Jurassic World: Dominion”). Each actor effectively brings to life the old-school rivalry in a town grappling with economic struggles.
Bang Bang embarks on a soul-searching journey, escaping from the hospital and confronting his long-standing hatred for his rival. He chooses to fight his own battles and take risks. The film sheds light on aspects of the boxing industry that often go unexamined. Initially, it appears to follow the classic narrative of a father training his son for glory, and I find myself rooting for his godson, Justin (nicknamed Jobs and played by Andrew Liner). However, Bang Bang seems to bully him into this path, as Justin is merely following orders from his new guardian. The boy’s mother mentions that Justin has been fighting and getting into trouble, which prompts Bang Bang to take action. Under his guidance, Justin steps into the ring for his first boxing match but ends up knocked out and hospitalized with a concussion.
The film also reveals that Bang Bang has a brother who suffered brain damage and is now in a nursing home for life. In a poignant moment at the end of the film, Bang Bang visits his brother, reflecting on how they both learned to box under the guidance of their father, aiming to avoid their father’s beatings.
“Bang Bang” is a touching and must-see film, which hits select theaters on September 12th.
