Directed by David O. Russell, The Fighter is based on the career and personal life of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward. The film, set in the 1980s and 90s, follows Ward as he trains for the world light welterweight title. Released in 2010, The Fighter was nominated for a best picture Oscar (although it was beaten by The King’s Speech). Gritty, passionate and moving – and featuring a large cast of complex characters – The Fighter is an engaging film that tells its story with humour and style.
The Fighter
Half-brothers Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) grew up in Lowell, a picket-fence community in small town America. The only boys from a large Irish-American family both developed a passion for boxing. The film opens with the brothers being followed by an HBO camera crew documenting Eklund’s supposed boxing comeback. Eklund boasts of having “put Lowell on the map” over a decade earlier, when he knocked down boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard. Now he is hoping to relive his glory days, while training Ward. However, Eklund has developed an addiction to crack cocaine and is having difficulty balancing his habit and his commitment to his younger brother. Ward becomes increasingly frustrated with Eklund, and – after falling for the beautiful and fiery Charlene (Amy Adams) – decides to distance himself from his brother for the sake of his boxing career. The Fighter follows the professional and personal struggles of both Ward and Eklund, and explores the relationship between the two brothers.
A Sense of Humour
There is a lot to like about The Fighter, but the most enthralling aspect of the film is its wonderful cast of characters. Wahlberg and Bale both deliver gripping performances as Ward and Eklund (Bale won the Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role for the film), highlighting the contrasts between two men whose lives are in many ways very similar. Bale, as Eklund, has an unstable, nervous energy, while Wahlberg – as the younger brother – is much more sober and thoughtful. Also impressive is Melissa Leo as Ward and Eklund’s mother Alice (Leo won the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for The Fighter), and Jack McGee as George Ward, Micky’s father. Each character has their flaws, and the film does not set out to make anyone a hero. Rather, every person is represented honestly, and with great warmth and humour. The sense of humour that runs throughout the film comes from the Ward/Eklund family – a close-knit unit that is able to recognise its own faults and laugh at them. The film seems to suggest that Ward and Eklund’s strength and perseverance comes from a family environment that is not only very loving and loyal, but that is also not afraid to admit to its mistakes and learn from them.
Entertaining and Refreshing
The Fighter has it all – action, romance, and upbeat boxing montages. However, The Fighter’s real success as a film comes from is its realistic characters, and its ability to see the funny side of life.
The Fighter is rated R for language, drugs, violence and sex. It runs for 115 minutes.
Carly Nugent - I am a 26 year old Australian currently living and working in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I have a Bachelor of Arts with a major in literature. ...
