Review: The Fighter (2010)

Director David O. Russell (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) does an admirable job telling the true story of former welterweight champion Micky Ward (portrayed by Mark Wahlberg). Ward is known especially for his famous trilogy of title fights with the late Arturo Gatti. The Fighter takes place years before these fights, as Micky is desperately trying to make a name for himself. Torn between depending on his family-that has a tendency to fall short- or training with professionals that will ensure his spot on HBO, Micky continues to exert himself. His brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale)- former professional boxer known for bringing Sugar Ray Leonard to the mat- persists to miss training sessions and events for Micky as he spirals deeper into his crack addiction. The Fighter is a magnificent display of a man with a dream, rising from the streets to fame. David O. Russell and Wahlberg continue to prove themselves a great cinematic duo. Wahlberg, showing both emotional and physical determination as he trained with the real Micky Ward and brother Dicky for the film, displays a great depiction of the great fighting Irishman. Additionally, Bale, famous for his astonishing physical dedication to roles (losing 63 pounds for his role in The Machinist, and reaching peak physical status for such films as American Psycho and Nolan's Batman Begins), continues to shock audiences with not only his drastic change of appearance for the role of Dicky, but for his oscar-worthy performance and portrayal of addiction. The setting and time period are precise, from the streets of Boston to the horrific moosed hairdos of the Ward sisters, placing the viewer's seat directly in the atmosphere of Lowell, Boston. The astoundingly talented Amy Adams only adds to the authenticity as Micky's autonomous Boston broud love interest. Much like Rocky, the final fifteen minutes of the film will leave its audience's nerves much like the antagonist's after a long drag of crack. Inspirational, compelling, and at times tragic, The Fighter hits on many levels- scoring it 31/2 stars.