Review of The Fighter (2010) by Ben L — 02 Oct 2017

The first thing I feel compelled to talk about when it comes to The Fighter are the scenes of boxing. I can?t remember if I?ve ever seen more convincing fights on screen that looked so much like the the two actors were swinging and connecting for real. This helps a lot and actually had me gritting my teeth with tension and wondering if Mark Wahlberg would be OK. That kind of moment, when I completely disconnect from the fact that I?m watching a movie and it feels like a real sport, is so rare and is one of my favorite experiences.

Of course I wouldn?t care one bit about that experience if they didn?t get me invested in the characters. This dysfunctional family was a bit infuriating at times, to the point that I was getting extremely annoyed. I always struggle with films that have a likeable protagonist that I identify with, and then they put him through a never-ending series of frustrating circumstances. However there?s this moment of realization for the family and I started to sympathize. I could see the struggle of Mark Wahlberg and his effort to balance his life, and it made me care more about him more.

The Fighter is a very human story and feels authentic. It?s no surprise this is based on a true story, because it isn?t sanitized and given a bunch of Hollywood flair. Most of the acting was spectacular, and the accents were delivered well. I?m not sure Amy Adams was quite the right actress to play the tough-as-nails girlfriend who stands up to the whole family. It?s not that she can?t handle the role, it just didn?t seem to fit her all that well. I expected to have a similar reaction to Christian Bale, but he was great and seemed to fit his role perfectly. Overall, The Fighter was an effective film that worked well for me, and one I will seek out again.