Review of film "THE FIGHTER" ( about 2 boxers in a family )

Review of film:  “THE FIGHTER”

I know this may come as a “shock” to you--  but this is a movie based on a “TRUE STORY” (as most seem to be this year!)…  Almost as surprising is, it’s really WELL-DONE…

…  “The Pride of Lowell”.  That’s a title that was given to 20-year-old Massachusetts boxer Dickie Eklund when he fought famed Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978 & supposedly knocked him out.  As the movie starts, a much older Dickie (played by CHRISTIAN BALE) is eagerly TELLING people the story of that event…

…  Dickie --  nearly “bouncing-off-the-walls” --  tells a camera crew (which he believes is filming the story of his life & his planned “COMEBACK” in boxing) how great he was, & how he now [as of 1985] was also helping out his (much quieter & more reserved) half-brother Micky Ward (MARK WAHLBERG) in his OWN boxing career…

…  But, there are PROBLEMS a-plenty:  Mark’s career has been run by his very aggressive & close-minded mother Alice Ward (MELISSA LEO), whose main concerns seem to be what SHE wants done in life.  Most of her 6 Eklund daughters seem to parrot what Melissa says & does (while the one Ward daughter tends to be on Mark’s side)… 

…  Her husband George (JACK McGEE) clearly sees how her actions are HURTING Mark & his career, but he finds it hard to get his thoughts across to his self-absorbed & often-violent wife… His “corner” man (a policeman friend of the family) also sees that Christian is an UNRELIABLE person to supposedly be “training” Mark, & doesn’t even want him around Mark in the gym…

…  Little-by-little, we see WHY Jack & the cop don’t trust Christian & keep trying to point out to Mark how he’s UNRELIABLE:  he’s become a DRUG ADDICT & CRIMINAL (in part to support his habit), & the camera crew is NOT filming the story of his “comeback”--  they’re really filming a documentary titled “HIGH ON CRACK STREET:  LIVES LOST IN LOWELL”…

…  Mark is shown to be a sincere, honest & good-hearted guy, often trying to spend time with a tweenish daughter he’d had with an ex-girlfriend…  In a bar, he chances to meet a smart & tough barmaid named Charlene Fleming (AMY ADAMS), who – after being hesitant with him at first--  realizes his good qualities & accepts his growing romantic interest in her…

…  Since Amy wants to see good things happen for Mark, that puts her at “loggerheads” with his mom Melissa, since Amy keeps encouraging Mark that it’d be best for him to get AWAY from having his mother & Christian involved with his career, as they’re HURTING him overall…  That forceful position also causes friction with the low-life Eklund sisters…

…  The film delves deeply into the relationships of the family -- especially the half-brothers --, & the TRAINING that Mark undergoes after Christian is sent “AWAY” & after he returns & tries to get re-involved in Mark’s boxing career…  There are numerous details about the FIGHTS Mark endures, & what happens between the various characters…

…  Will Christian ever get his life in “ORDER”?...  Will Melissa ever accept AMY as someone who’s important to Mark?...  Will Mark ever WIN any fights?...  Will he get close to the CHAMPIONSHIP he covets?...  What will happen between him & Amy?...

…  In certain ways, you’ve “seen” the BASIC idea of this story before--  the “Rocky”-like way a disrespected boxer tries to move UP in the world professionally & personally…  But, what’s special in this (besides the fine cinematography) is the ACTING:

…  Christian Bale gives another EXCEPTIONAL performance, & is deserving of an OSCAR-nomination for his work.  The same is also true for MELISSA’s (supporting) work as the oblivious, self-centered mother, & AMY for her forceful & serious work as the girlfriend…  Mark’s performance is enormously good, but it’s a purposely-“understated” (comparatively “quiet” & “mild”) role compared to the others mentioned…

…  Because of the fine work in the film, I’m grading it as 8.75 out of 10 stars…