Berry has built a thriving career around fractured women fighting to stay on their feet through thick and thin. Both as actor and director, she brings great heft to this story of a woman who chins up in the face of obstacles and keeps going.

| Sep 27, 2023

It has the familiar beats of many sports movies, but Berry's directorial debut looks below the surface to find an organic sense of life that's beaten and pummeled but also persistent and hopeful.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 20, 2023

Berry's performance will win over fans of the genre where the down on your luck fighter picks themselves off the mat, they will give Bruised's script a pass. However, the film is too insincere in its intimate moments and far too predictable.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 4, 2023

Halle Berry brings her all to Bruised, but the film is too familiar thematically to earn the explosive emotional impact it desires.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 1, 2022

The only thing that works here is the [fight] sequences in which you intuitively cover your eyes to avoid suffering so many blows. [Full review in Spanish]

| Jun 22, 2022

But despite its best intentions, the movie ends up a recycled and regurgitated version of many other movies in the same genre, only without the same impact.

| Jan 13, 2022

A script that loses in a unanimous decision to all the cliches and a heavy-handed story it dishes out.

| Original Score: C+ | Jan 3, 2022

Halle Berry shows real filmmaking talent, but there's too much going on throughout the movie, when the story demands a more consistently minimalist treatment.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 31, 2021

Pacing and some character development keep BRUISED from being a knockout, but it has such strong performances that it's never down for the count.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 31, 2021

When it comes to sports dramas, they can sometimes be quite predictable and, unfortunately, become cliché. Bruised tends to fall within said trope. However, watch it for the performances.

| Dec 27, 2021

Halle Berry directed and stars in this brutal film that also features an outstanding performance by young Danny Boyd, Jr.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Dec 22, 2021

Halle Berry K.O's in her directorial debut as an emotionally, physically abused UFC fighter desperately trying to win back her career and respect from the only person who loved her unconditionally - her son.

| Dec 22, 2021

The weak link is the script, by rookie screenwriter Michelle Rosenfarb, which recycles every boxing and child cliche this side of Wallace Beery in "The Champ" (1931.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Dec 21, 2021

Bruised is a technically impressive start to Halle Berry's directing career-muddy look aside-but she can't overcome the script's weaknesses.

| Dec 19, 2021

Halle Berry transforms into a role that obviously required a lot of bodilyy preparation. A pity that it's not a knock out. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 17, 2021

While Bruised gets a gold star for lesbian representation, other stereotypes prove to be its weakest elements.

| Original Score: A- | Dec 12, 2021

Berry displays heart, both on the acting and directing sides, but at times, 'Bruised' feels like a Frankenstein of fight movies before it.

| Dec 10, 2021

A fairly standard but effective piece of work.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 9, 2021

There are stretches where you'll find it worthwhile to put up a fight, but in the end, you're probably going want to tap out.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 8, 2021

Berry films with an assured hand. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 6, 2021