The Fighter

What I admire the most about The Fighter is the intimacy of the film. From the very beginning you feel like you’re sitting on the couch in the Eklund-Ward house taking part in a family meeting. Mark Wahlberg (The Other Guys) plays Micky Ward whose half-brother Dicky Eklund was known as the Pride of Lowell. Dicky, played by Christian Bale (Batman Begins) had a promising boxing career, even going the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard, but his drug addiction caused him to piss it away so now the families hope’s are behind Micky.
 
Micky’s seven sisters and one big brother love him dearly, but they are clearly holding him back. His domineering mother is also a hindrance, but her love for both her son’s has created a blind spot. Micky is living in Dicky’s shadow yet the family doesn’t see it. All they want is for him to do well without really seeing what that means and what it takes. Micky is their hope for fame and prosperity, they just don’t know how to help him get there.
 
When Micky meets Charlene, Amy Adams (Enchanted) she immediately catches on to the situation and becomes an advocate for Micky’s career. Now he has nine women fighting over him and he is stuck in the middle. Just as hotheaded as his mom and sisters, Charlene takes them all on creating additional family drama and stress for Micky. With so many women in his life telling him what to do, Micky feels trapped. He also feels obligated to his big brother who has been training him since he was a boy and has taught him everything he knows. He realizes that Dicky’s drug problem is taking him down too, but he’s loathe to be disloyal to family. Micky is ready to give it all up which would be a shame because the man has talent and is an excellent boxer.
 
This true-life story feels more like a family drama than a boxing film, but that’s its beauty and its strength. There’s no cliché bookies, or mobsters, or criminals trying to get him to throw a fight. Micky’s obstacle is his own family and his insecurity. He needs to find the courage to be his own man and fight for what’s best for him. Once that’s done, facing an opponent in the ring will be the easy thing.
 
Melissa Leo (Frozen River) is phenomenal as Mama Ward. She is a tigress and the fiercest fighter in the family. And Christian Bale is giving us one of the best performances of his career. His portrayal is spot-on especially when you see clips of the real Dicky Eklund at the end of the film. You can see how much Bale put in to this role, he captured the essence of Dicky.
 
Amy Adams is also excellent as Micky’s girlfriend. Her fearlessness in fighting for her man gave him the courage to stand up for himself. But ultimately what he really wanted was the best training and his family too. Luckily, Charlene and all those who loved him were able to compromise and give him both. With everyone working together there was no way he could lose and as we all know Micky is now the new Pride of Lowell and his big brother couldn’t be happier.

Rating: First Run A new addition to great boxing films