The Fighter Review

• 17th Feb 2011

The Fighter tells the story of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his trainer brother Dicky Eklund. Eklund is a former welterweight contender whose local legend is based on his knocking down of Sugar Ray Leonard back in 1978. The film opens with Dicky in the centre of a HBO documentary about his apparent comeback. It later turns out the documentary is about the growing use of crack in their hometown of Lowell with Dicky the star of his own self destruction.  Meanwhile, Micky is desperately trying to move away from his insane mother and drug riddled brother.  Upon release from prison Dicky, now eight months clean, finally makes amends with Micky and his girlfriend. Ultimately, we arrive at Micky’s moment of destiny in the ring with his brother in his corner and his family and home-town hoping for a new hero.

The first point I have to make is, like Million Dollar Baby, The Fighter is not a movie about boxing. This is an ensemble drama of a dysfunctional family set against the backdrop of brothers being in the fight game. The entire cast of The Fighter delivers the best group performance of any film I have seen in a long time. The opening five minute monologue by Christian Bale is nothing short of spectacular and would, on its own, probably secure him this year’s supporting actor Oscar. Having recently picked up the Golden Globe, Bale immediately pointed out, the main reason his insane performance draws attention is due to the calm brilliance of Mark Wahlberg. Melissa Leo, as the mother, is nothing short of frightening and Amy Adams as Micky’s attitude driven girlfriend is also superb.

Darren Aranofsky was originally down to direct The Fighter but moved on to make Black Swan. This opened the door for another infamous tyrant behind the camera in the shape of David O. Russell. Russell has previously delivered excellent films such as Spanking the Monkey and Three Kings. Thankfully this change at the helm doesn’t hurt the film one bit as his ultra real pseudo-documentary style suites the story down to the ground. The photography and locations are real to the point of discomfort at times. This honesty and integrity of filming help create empathy for Micky as he attempts to win the World Title as much for brother as for himself.

Unlike rags to riches tales like Rocky, The Fighter is a story about two brothers who simply wanted to be world champions. Micky’s eventual capturing of the World Belt is only achieved through a great deal of physical and emotional pain. This success for him is a fully shared triumph with his brother. I challenge anyone not to be close to tears at the closing monologue.  The Fighter is a film that honestly depicts the roots of where boxing stems from. The fight game is populated by men who have come from poverty or abandoned backgrounds with fighting actually providing focus. Re-calling the timeless This Sporting Life, The Fighter brilliantly shows that those who aspire and reach the top of this sport must contend with a great deal of hardship and turmoil. This is why films about football never prove as dramatic, those at the top end of that sport are pampered and spoiled to the point of being repulsive and those at the bottom remain anonymous allowing for no Cinderella moment.

Three weeks ago I was convinced Black Swan was the best film that I had seen this year without a doubt. The Fighter has made those waters far more muddied to say the least.  A drama as intense and honest as this simply doesn’t come along from Hollywood with much regularity. Couple the story with a group of performances that beggars belief and what you have is a film worthy of any prize coming its way this award season. A stunning film that must be one of the greatest sports dramas ever made with a doubt.

Aled Jones