There have been a lot of boxing movies over the years. Rocky and Raging Bull stand apart as the greatest the genre has to offer. The Fighter is not far behind. In the works for years with a revolving door of directing and acting talent, the only constant was Mark Wahlberg. Seeing this film made has been a passion of Wahlberg’s for over five years now, and once you see it, you’ll understand why. David O Russell has crafted an intelligent, compassionate, and funny film about the concurrent rise and fall of boxers Micky and Dickie Ward, two Irish brothers living in Lowell, Mass in the early 1990s.
Based on the true story of seemingly washed-up Micky Ward’s rise to glory despite the downward spiral of his brother and the mismanagement of his lecherous mother, The Fighter had the potential to be just another syrupy underdog story. Luckily for all involved, a strong screenplay and the wealth of talent involved help to create a film that resonates much deeper than you might initially think. Russell has long proven to be a special director, with Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees, both past collaborations with Wahlberg, serving as high points on his resume. Those two films contain some of Wahlberg’s best work, and the trend continues in The Fighter. Wahlberg gives a thoughtful, at times almost understated performance that really holds the film together. He doesn’t make the character a cliché or stereotype, as easy as that might have been. It’s not the flashiest role, and is nearly swallowed up by Christian Bale’s performance, but Wahlberg’s performance stands as further proof of a solid career, with many highlights yet to come.
Speaking of Bale, a lot has already been said regarding his performance as the troubled crack-addicted former boxer Dickie Ward, but it bears repeating as his presence looms over the film regardless of whether or not he’s on screen. Sporting a bald spot and gaunt frame, Bale appears here as a ghostly figure, a constant reminder to Micky of where this hard-luck life can lead. It’s a wild, take-no-prisoners performance and the kind of stuff Oscar statues are made of, both hilarious and tragic. In a career chock-full of special performances, Christian Bale’s riveting, manic portrayal of Dickie Ward stands alongside Patrick Bateman as the best of his career. The Oscar for Best Supporting Actor is a foregone conclusion. Melissa Leo and Amy Adams also deliver standout performances as Micky’s mother and girlfriend, respectively. The two woman serve as opposing forces in Micky’s life, and with Dickie serving as the wild card, there is plenty of turmoil surrounding Micky’s battered career .
I was surprised at the amount of genuine humor in The Fighter, as a film dealing with family turmoil, crack addiction, and violent beating for small paydays didn’t initially seem a candidate for large helpings of comedy. It’s never too much, however, and unlike True Grit, the director Russell seems to know when to draw the line and avoid compromising the tone of the film.Oddly enough, the film’s only misstep comes in the ring, as the fight scenes lack the speed and intensity of Rocky or the cinematic verve of Raging Bull. Russell opted to shoot them from a broadcast perspective, and the resulting effect, complete with commentary, HBO graphics, and a marked change in cinematography, feels disjointed and underdeveloped. Still, Wahlberg is in fantastic shape and is more than convincing as a welterweight fighter. The punches pack a wallop, but suffer in comparison to the stomach punch of family drama that permeates Micky’s climb to the top. Despite the tragedy of Dickie Ward and the awfulness of his = mother and sisters, The Fighter is a feel-good movie. We all know how it will end; it is based on a true story, after all. What matters is the fight to get there and, thanks to a screenplay which rises above cliché and a host of excellent performances, The Fighter is still standing tall at the final bell. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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