Review of The Fighter (2010) by Susanna M — 01 Mar 2016

A project brought about by Mark Wahlberg persistence and the inspiring true story of gritty half-brother boxing champions Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward; this fairly predictable triumphant template of beating the odds and making it to the ultimate sporting goal has far more depth and layers than most.

Welterweight from the wrong side of the tracks, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale) was in thee 1980's the 'pride of working class Lowell', Massachusetts. In the limelight again, a good 10 years after his knock-out claim to fame over Sugar Ray Leonard; Dicky is being escorted by HBO through out his daily life, recording on what we are lead to believe will be a documentary about his glorious return to the ring.

The crew follow him around at home, about town, in the car and whilst training his kid half-brother, Micky (Mark Wahlberg). The only other male in the extensively confusing family brood of nine siblings, Micky idolises his older bother and sits directly in his shadow to also become a champion.

Like the rest in his overbearing and blinded by love family, Micky suffers in silence and lives in denial about the destructive harm Dicky consistently inflicts, always Looking passed his bothers woefully unreliable coaching, his 'shame of Lowell' crack addicted antics and his lack of management standing.

After last minute schedule changes of a new 20Ibs plus substitute opponent, Micky once again takes it in his brother's issues in his stride and agrees to continue in the fight; left far more battered and bruised that should ever have been allowed, Micky is disheartened and disillusioned with the whole thing.

Until he meets Charlene (Amy Adams); a stronger woman than the family's female horde put together, Charlene is a college drop out turned bar wench determined not to let Dicky's personal same ruin Micky's entire life.

With Charlene's unwavering support he steps away from his controlling family and finds new management. Sending a rift through the entire brood and fuels Dicky's inexcusable behaviour to reach a peak, a police fight over nothing leaves Dicky drying out in jail and Micky with a broken hand and broken career. Can Micky come back and to win on his own, will Dicky find a way to make sure he stays the families number one or will Dicky finally support his brother?

As a non Christian Bale fan, it really pains me to say that in this role he was a stand out. Delivering a complex and complete characterisation with wonderful nerve-jangling texture, this performance (and his dangerously underweight look) is highly reminiscent of his insomnia riddled role in The Machinist and well deserving of his up coming 2011 best supporting actor Oscar nomination.

Mark Wahlberg is strong in the well rounded and likeable hero torn between adoration and anguish role. Melissa Leo is fantastically believable as their highly possessive mother Alice; and Amy Adams excels as Micky's tactless but educated pillar of moral support girlfriend.

The Verdict: Focused on relationships, bad habits and balance rather than the single road to glory, The Fighter reinforces the power of family; irrespective of how dysfunctional and self-destructive that family may be.

Minus a few pacing issues, this story, like the real "Irish" Micky Ward, climaxes on an explosive note in the ninth round...

Published: The Queanbeyan Age.

Date of Publication: 28/01/2011.