The Fighter

I don’t know much about boxing, but I decided to see The Fighter, a movie about real life boxers Micky Ward and Dickie Eklund.  The movie is really well done and entertaining, though a few scenes are more difficult to watch. 

I am not familiar with Micky or Dickie, so I have no idea how accurate The Fighter is.  The movie only covers a specific time period in the lives of the brothers.  For me, since I didn’t know anything about the real men, it was hard for me to know for sure how much time passed over the course of the movie.  It does seem like some things receive more attention than others.

Much of The Fighter is focused on Micky’s training.  That does add some violence to the movie.  A few scenes are more graphic than others, though the movie isn’t overly gory.  The plot does sort of follow a formula, but it is done well and ends up being entertaining.  Some of what happens is predictable, but that didn’t bother me.  Some complications are added, mostly through how the family deals with each other.  That family - at least the movie version of them - has a lot of issues. 

A lot of time in The Fighter shows things tied to Dickie and how his life has spiraled out of control.  He once fought Sugar Ray Leonard, and he is still living off that former glory.  After that fight, nothing much happened with his boxing career.  By the time the movie is set, he is a drug addict with delusions of staging a comeback.  Their mother ignores the problems that Dickie has, while praising him and not really supporting Micky. 

The acting in The Fighter is wonderful.  Mark Wahlberg does a really good job as Micky.  He spent several years training for the part, even before he knew for sure it was going to be made.  Christian Bale is the real stand out as Dickie.  Bale lost a lot of weight for the part.  That does give him a more realistic drug addict look, but he’s also creepy looking.  Bale just doesn’t look good that thin.  The freaky, creepy look works for the character.  Amy Adams turns up as Charlene, Micky’s girlfriend.  It is a different sort of role for Adams, but I think she does well with it. 

The Fighter is a very good movie and definitely worth watching.  The cast is outstanding and I can see why they have been receiving award nominations.  Fans of the cast should give it a chance.

I did get a review posted on Epinions after seeing the movie in the theater.

The Fighter