Life of a Champion
Genre: Thriller / Drama
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writer: Alex Conn
LIFE OF A CHAMPION SERIES
Cast:
Miles Teller .... John
Dave Franco .... Alex
Dane DeHaan .... Charlie
James Franco .... Jake
Juno Temple .... Jennifer
Will Poulter .... Chris
Bruce Greenwood .... John Smith
Plot: The film opens with Alex (Dave Franco) serving in Afghanistan saving a group of soldiers from being a prisoner of war except for one who he let die. He is decorated by many military groups. Alex decides to go become a professional wrestler. He eventually gets employed by Wrestling Global an up and coming wrestling channel.
He is in his room about to go to work in wrestling. He begins practicing and Charlie (Dane DeHaan) who is an investor in wrestling and a drug dealer notices a talent and he remembers that his brother served with him after Alex finds out his last name Cooper. Charlie invites him and his wife Jennifer (Juno Temple) to a party where he meets Charlie's associate Chris. Charlie is equally scared and excited for Alex and Alex befriends John (Miles Teller) who is a wrestler and they train together. Alex becomes a great wrestler and ends up winning the championship wrestling match. After the fight Charlie invites Alex to his drug dealing empire and John to a party and Alex comes a bit early and witnesses a murder in Charlie's backyard he shoots Alex and kills him and he tries to kill John but he escapes.
John tells Alex's widow Jennifer to call Jake (James Franco) who is a fixer and private investigator to bring Charlie to justice. There is an outdoor funeral for Alex in the graveyard and after this he meets Jake. Jake and John go to a restaurant and Jake and John research at his house and uncover a conspiracy and they report to the authorities who are resistant to search Charlie's house. Charlie learns that Jake is a private investigator and while Jennifer is walking home she is kidnapped and raped and killed by Charlie and his righthand man Chris (Will Poulter) videotapes it. In the videotape it is revealed that not only was Alex killed because he witnessed the drug deal but also because his brother was the one who Alex let die.
At Alex's house Charlie shows the video to Jake threatening him and saying that if anything comes out about their operation both of them will be killed. They forward the email to their lawyer John Smith (Bruce Greenwood) who releases the email and John Smith is going jogging Charlie shoots and kills him as Jake watches in horror.
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writer: Alex Conn
LIFE OF A CHAMPION SERIES
Cast:
Miles Teller .... John
Dave Franco .... Alex
Dane DeHaan .... Charlie
James Franco .... Jake
Juno Temple .... Jennifer
Will Poulter .... Chris
Bruce Greenwood .... John Smith
Plot: The film opens with Alex (Dave Franco) serving in Afghanistan saving a group of soldiers from being a prisoner of war except for one who he let die. He is decorated by many military groups. Alex decides to go become a professional wrestler. He eventually gets employed by Wrestling Global an up and coming wrestling channel.
He is in his room about to go to work in wrestling. He begins practicing and Charlie (Dane DeHaan) who is an investor in wrestling and a drug dealer notices a talent and he remembers that his brother served with him after Alex finds out his last name Cooper. Charlie invites him and his wife Jennifer (Juno Temple) to a party where he meets Charlie's associate Chris. Charlie is equally scared and excited for Alex and Alex befriends John (Miles Teller) who is a wrestler and they train together. Alex becomes a great wrestler and ends up winning the championship wrestling match. After the fight Charlie invites Alex to his drug dealing empire and John to a party and Alex comes a bit early and witnesses a murder in Charlie's backyard he shoots Alex and kills him and he tries to kill John but he escapes.
John tells Alex's widow Jennifer to call Jake (James Franco) who is a fixer and private investigator to bring Charlie to justice. There is an outdoor funeral for Alex in the graveyard and after this he meets Jake. Jake and John go to a restaurant and Jake and John research at his house and uncover a conspiracy and they report to the authorities who are resistant to search Charlie's house. Charlie learns that Jake is a private investigator and while Jennifer is walking home she is kidnapped and raped and killed by Charlie and his righthand man Chris (Will Poulter) videotapes it. In the videotape it is revealed that not only was Alex killed because he witnessed the drug deal but also because his brother was the one who Alex let die.
At Alex's house Charlie shows the video to Jake threatening him and saying that if anything comes out about their operation both of them will be killed. They forward the email to their lawyer John Smith (Bruce Greenwood) who releases the email and John Smith is going jogging Charlie shoots and kills him as Jake watches in horror.
BOX OFFICE
Budget: $31,000,000
Domestic Box Office: $37,515,210
Foreign Box Office: $29,903,675
Total Profit: $1,900,075
Domestic Box Office: $37,515,210
Foreign Box Office: $29,903,675
Total Profit: $1,900,075
REVIEWS
"This one sure has some twists and turns. Just when you think the movie will be about one thing or think one character is the protagonist, the script pulls the rug out from under you and reveals a whole new set of tricks." - Charles Yost, Oregonian
"The film is really a bit of a mixed bag, but the strengths outweigh the weaknesses by a small margin. The plot is unrelentingly dark, but Teller and the Francos make for likable 'good guys'." - James Tubbs Jr., Vice Magazine
"There is some strong acting on display, but it ultimately ends up too silly for my tastes. Life of a Champion may also feature some of the least intimidating villains in recent memory. DeHaan and Poulter are both talented young actors, but DeHaan playing the aggressive criminal kingpin in the film comes off as a bit ridiculous since he probably weighs in at 130 lbs soaking wet." - Jeremy Raren, RottenTomatoes.com
Rated R for horror violence, frightening images, language and some sexual content
Filming Locations:
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA