Movie #368 ........................."The Fighter"

Movie #368 "The Fighter" Okay, I have to admit, I was not looking forward to this movie --- my attitude was: not another fight movie. How could it be better than "Raging Bull" which to me defines the genre? I usually sit through fight films and end up hating them because of the gratuitous violence I think they exhibit. But, of course, that's what fighting films are supposed to be on, so then I tell myself that it's my fault, what did I expect? and why do people find movies about such violence so exciting? blah, blah, blah. It's the same dialogue with myself, and I last had it when I saw the wrestler. The staple gun scene pretty much did me in. The acting in these films is usually good, don't get me wrong. But I just don't want to see another film on the prize fighting world, because I don't really care about it. I don't get the passion about it. Enough said on that. Then, this one comes along, and I really wasn't going to see it, but I saw the Charlie Rose interview, and it piqued my interest. Mark Wahlberg trained for this for 12 years? Christian Bale lost weight again for this movie and was willing to work for a director that snubbed him earlier when he wanted to do a movie called three kings? Amy Adams is playing a foul mouthed girlfriend, without makeup? Melissa Leo, touting a blonde wig and huge Boston accent as the fighter's overprotective, pushy mom? Well, I'm glad I saw it because there's much to like. First, it was amazing to watch both Wahlberg and Bale don their roles ---- when you see the real brothers at the end of the film, you appreciate how spot on both these actors are - Amy Adams and Melissa Leo get across their characters who are so different from their previous work in film, that I hardly recognized them. There were few fight scenes (hooray) and the ones in here, the audience was privy to most of the strategy so we could actually follow the fight instead of just go "ooh" when they were hit! The story, acting, editing/cinematography were all excellent, and it looked truly collaborative. And what a story --- it's as much about family ties as it is about the fightworld-------- I'm glad I went to see it, and I'm here to say that it isn't just another fight movie.




I give it 4 stars
The Fighter
(2010) R
Mark Wahlberg stars as boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and Christian Bale as half brother and trainer Dicky Eklund in this inspiring drama based on the fighter's rise from working-class Lowell, Mass., to world-class welterweight champ. After a string of defeats, Mickey rediscovers his fighting will with help from Dicky -- a once-talented pugilist battling drug addiction. The film earned multiple Golden Globe nods, including Best Motion Picture (Drama).
Genre: Sports Dramas, Boxing, Biographies
Format: DVD and Blu-ray availability date unknown