The Fighter is 2010's best American film. The great and often controversial David O. Russell (whose past directorial credits include Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings, and the brilliant I Heart Huckabees) has crafted a muscular film which is not just an exciting boxing saga, but also a tender drama concerning two men's struggle to overcome several adversities in the pursuit of success both inside the ring and in their personal lives. One of those men is Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) of Lowell, Mass. The film chronicles the junior welterweight boxer's rise from local embarrassment to world champion. Russell and a trio of screenwriters, including 8 Mile's Scott Silver, populate this fact-based tale of athletic redemption with a host of fascinating characters, including Ward's gregarious half-brother and unreliable trainer, Dick Ecklund (Christian Bale), a one-time contender who went the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard before losing his career amidst a descent into drug abuse.

The Fighter boasts at least four sensational performances. First and foremost is Christian Bale, who delivers a career-best and soon-to-be-iconic performance. The Batman star's physical transformation into a once-fantastic athlete wasting away is nothing short of astounding, but Bale is now known for such transformations (The Machinist, Rescue Dawn). What sets this performance apart even more is how he vanishes into the role in other respects, from his voice to the very way he moves. The viewer never sees Christian Bale the movie star. They just see Dick Ecklund, the "Pride of Lowell" turned shameful hood. This is, without a doubt, the performance of the year. It is on par with Daniel Day-Lewis' celebrated turns in My Left Foot and There Will Be Blood. I can't imagine Bale not having an Oscar by this time next year.

Almost as dynamite as Bale are Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Adams plays a headstrong bartender who becomes Micky Ward's girlfriend and inspires him to rebel against his controlling, dysfunctional family, led by his blonde, loud, and tough-as-nails mother (an electrifying Leo). Adams is best known for charming performances as innocent characters in films such as Junebug, Enchanted, and Doubt. She shows a different side of herself here, portraying a hard woman from a hard neighborhood who is not without her share of regrets.

Then there is, as the fighter himself, Mark Wahlberg. Of the four main performances, his is by far the most reserved. He is, however, never dull. Micky Ward is a hesitant, observant man surrounded by colorful characters, including his mother, half-brother, and seven blunt, opinionated sisters (a hint of David O. Russell's spot-on comic instincts). Wahlberg in turn delivers a quiet performance with a certain soulful quality. Providing unblemished support to Wahlberg, Bale, Adams, and Leo is a vast supporting cast, several of which are Lowell natives. They, of course, give convincing, lived-in performances. How could they not? This is a story from and of where they live.

The Fighter is David O. Russell's most serious film to date, but it is still a David O. Russell film through and through. His direction is never by-the-numbers, and this is not a by-the-numbers boxing film. In an inspired decision, he and D.P. Hoyte van Hoytema (Let the Right One In) shoot the boxing sequences as they would have been shot at the time for broadcast on HBO. This may sound strange, but it proves fascinating. Several directors, including Martin Scorsese and Ron Howard, have crafted exciting, graceful inside-the-ring boxing sequences, so it refreshing Russell went in a quirkier, rather lo-fi direction. The bouts are just as enthralling as those in Raging Bull and Cinderella Man, but the perspective is different.

A

That's odd, because I had the opposite reaction. I thought Russell could've spent even more time in the wring, but didn't, which I was perfectly fine with.

Best film of the year for me, easily. Despite the film centering around Micky Ward, the heart of the film is with his brother Dicky. I knew the film wold center around the both of them, but the film is really about Dicky (or at least he's the most interesting character) and I knew nothing about his story heading in. Bale's performance and that storyline blew me away.

I also thought the boxing scenes were very well done. It takes a similar approach to what Stallone decided to do with the final Rocky, but still somehow manages to be different in style. The best boxing films are able to distinguish themselves the best from one another (Rocky, Raging Bull, Rocky Balboa) and The Fighter is the same (with the exception of one slow motion shot that almost seemed like a direct homage to Raging Bull).

Great film.

****

trashes

Glad Gunslinger talked about all the performances as it is amazing how he covered so many characters fully. You totally got a great understanding of all of those 4. Shit you even got a full understanding of Adams, who as the girlfriend, would normally be underwritten.

And you even got a good idea of a number of supporting character.

* the father
* the daughter and the ex wife
* the sisters, as a group
* the prison
* the junkie hangout
* the boxing gym and the training
Etc....

And on the fights, yes they were needed...but they were the standard...give him problems and then let him win.

Shit, the two main fights he never should have won.

* do nothing for 8 rounds and then win in 30 seconds in round 9!

Anyway, just a great compelling movie.

One of the best dramas of the year. I thought the family storyline ended up being more involving than the matches (which were shot greatly) but both work out pretty well. For sure, Bale had the best acting here yet the supporting cast particularly Adams and Leo were in top form too. The scenes where Micky beats his opponent in the last minute and the catfight are too good to miss.

A-

Adams really was great in this. As I have always loved her. Hope she wins the Best Supporting Award.

Wondering though if she will be hurt by too much Bale love, a split with Leo in votes... Or just tough competition from someone else.

Despite a slow starting half-hour, The Fighter is a fantastic drama that just grows better and better each minute. Mark Wahlberg showed his four years of determination here as his boxing skills are very real and his acting ends up being some of his best. Melissa Leo and Amy Adams pull out very strong supporting roles and both deserving Oscar nominations for them. This overall is Christian Bale's shining moment. He pulls off the selfish, thing he is doing everything right role perfectly but at the same time you feel sorry for him and want him to do better (particularly during the scene where he watches his documentary and notices his son's sadness). The boxing scenes are shot beautifully, in the fact the entire film is one of the best shot of the year. If it wasn't for the drag at the beginning, it would of been top quality but either way, it is highly recommended. ***1/2

I bet that even when the two original brothers watch The Fighter, they throw up their hands and go: "Sheeesh!!!"

Even though directed like a really tawdry little soap opera, this archetypal tale fails to ignite. After I got used to see the quality actors doing their thing (Amy Adams' bar scenes alone are worth the price of admission)(Christian Bale shamelessly cashing in on his internet meme by going "full retard" (in the parlance of Tropic Thunder))(Marky Mark got rooked here though - - nothing for him to do but look hot - - oh wait, that's what he always does!), I soon lost interest in the obvious plot.

The Fighter is certainly all dressed up like a quality movie, a contender as it were. Sadly, as you watch it unfold, you start to notice there's nothing there - - it's all hollow and empty. Yet another vapid Oscar bait December disappointment.


2 out of 5.

Sure, Micky Ward doesn't really rise up against adversity in as significant a way as Bertie or Aron Rafolsen. He's a warrior of a boxer, and that isn't really communicated here. What we do get is some surprisingly complex family dynamics. It's not one of those great French family dramas of the last few years, but its a lot of fun seeing Bale, Adams, Leo, and those batshit crazy sisters chewing up Lowell. I like that the film quietly asks whose using who without making anyone into The Bad Guy.

My friend argued that Mark Wahlberg is the glue that held the film together. Maybe he was just trying to underplay it, but he doesn't really register. D. Faraci points out...
" The actor has two modes – tough guy and whiner. You know the tough guy from The Departed; for the whiner just think of his role in The Happening: “Have you guys heard about the bees?” In Huckabees Russell managed to find an alchemical halfway point between those two character types in the existential fireman role, but no such luck in The Fighter. Wahlberg just disappears into the film, wallpaper against whom other, more interesting actors work.

If Russell doesn't make the movie pop as much as I Heart Huckabees, it's still the richest family drama I've seen from Hollywood this year. That may be a backhanded compliment, depending on your point of view.

Can always count on Bradley to go "full retard" and give us the worst review for a highly praised movie.

You've become a joke, I hope you have realized that.

Wow, you must have really loved The Fighter - - awaiting your review Chiptard!

Have not seen it.

Was this supposed to be taken seriously?

Wow, so I loved this. The Fighter expertly combines elements of an underdog sports story and a dysfunctional family drama to form a riveting and heartfelt overall film, with some of the best acting in any movie this year. Mark Wahlberg's performance is less flashy than the ones surrounding him but this is still some of the best work he's done. And then there's Christian Bale...this is the real deal. He becomes Dicky; it's just an utterly transfixing, incomparable performance of the highest caliber. Melissa Leo is excellent, and her mother-son dynamic with Bale is so believable that you forget you're watching actors when they're on screen together. Amy Adams, cast against type as a somewhat foul-mouthed spitfire, is also completely wonderful...Charlene is much more than a stock supportive girlfriend type of character and this is largely due to the forceful nature of Adams' work. Also, the sisters...omg lol, because they had me in stitches throughout. David O. Russell does some great things here, specifically how all of the boxing bouts are filmed ala HBO (which, especially in the context of Dicky's documentary, works very well). Nothing in this film feels forced or overly cinematic. The Fighter is a crowdpleaser, but one that earns every bit of the praise that has been thrown at it. A

Absolutely amazing. I normally hate sports movies, especially inspirational ones like this, but The Fighter is waay more than that. I just got sucked in by the crazy, dysfunctional, at times hilarious family and the intense performance of Christian Bale. My new favorite of 2010.

A

It starts of well enough. The washed up brother and mother's misplaced undying ambition for him gag is shoved down your throat with enough force to choke even those without gag reflexes, but O. Russel clearly knows how to create drama and tension. As the dysfunctional family unrolls there are plenty of moments of true poignancy to compensate for those where it is phoned in. The oscar oriented performances sometimes feel more like a show than fleshed out characters (except Amy Adams, who can apparently do no wrong even in a role about as far from her comfort zone as one can get,) but they are effective, consistent, and methodical. Perfectly deserving of the cascade of nominations certain to fall upon the very talented and experienced actors responsible for them. The problem with the movie is it is not only about a fucked up family, but a hybrid with a sport's story. As the film progresses from family melodrama to sports drama to inspirational success story it consistently loses it's effective emotion and is replaced with convention and inept tension. The movie is good, but I would never have any interest in revisiting any aspect of it at all ever really, not even Bale's impressive but overhyped performance.
Also, as much as I love my dear Amy, Hailee Steinfeld deserves that oscar over either of these actresses.

The movie? I believe it was meant to be taken very very very very seriously. I detected no camp, hysteria, or sense of humor like in Black Swan at all.

YOU HAVE TERRIBLE OPINIONS. I hope she wins the Oscar to spite you

Whatever. Just Whatever.

So none of the scenes with the Girls or with Dickey or with the Mother.

There were some that were poignant, plenty that were depressingly accurate of real people, and a few that were cringeworthy, but funny? No.

I am shocked that Bradley Witherberry is the one who came closest to telling the truth about this film.

It was a rhetorical question.

Eh, I kinda liked the movie a lot.

really enjoyed the movie. being a huge boxing fan and knowing the story of micky ward i wish they would have went a little bit more into his boxing history with his fights against Judah, Augustus and Gatti but they did probably end it at the right time. Whats funny is they skip over the Judah fight (which he lost) and that fight was before Neary but after the Santiago fight. I get they had to be a little creative with some of the stuff but it bothered me.

Family drama was great. the boxing scenes were fantastic and authentic from the fighting to how they were filmed and all the performances were fantastic. Leo and Bale easily dominated the show though.

Oh and magnus, Amy Adams is smoking hot.

A-.