Alan Arkin compares 'Grudge Match' shoot to pointillism

Alan Arkin has been on his share of movie shoots in a film career that dates to 1957, but he said he never before has experienced anything quite like the one for “Grudge Match,’’ which opens Wednesday.

When I asked whether it was fun to be part of a boxing film with Sylvester Stallone and Robert DeNiro he said that while he enjoyed his fellow cast members, “I don’t think anybody can call it ‘fun.’ It was the most meticulous way of shooting I’ve ever seen.’’

Arkin, 79, who plays Stallone’s trainer, said the boxing choreography was so particular every punch was a separate filmed entity. “It was like pointillism,’’ he said, referring to a painting technique using dots of color to create an image.

While Arkin is not much of a sports fan beyond tennis, “Grudge Match’’ is one of two upcoming sports-themed movies for him. “Million Dollar Arm,’’ about the recruitment of cricket players to play pro baseball, is due out in spring.

How did that shoot go? “It was murder!’’ Arkin said. “We were in India in the summer in 125-degree heat. I didn’t think we’d survive.’’