Micky Ward
(Mark Wahlberg) is a boxer down on his luck. His mom is his manager and his brother, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale),
is a former boxer (who knocked down Sugar Ray) with a drug problem. Micky ends up in ill matched fights and he wants
his boxing career to take off. He meets Charlotte (Amy Adams), a tough local bartender, that he gets involved with and
his career takes a turn (but not without family friction).
THE FIGHTER is a comeback story based on a true story.
I found the characters to be engaging and I was sucked into the story. I do feel the ending is a little rushed.
The movie made me read up about Micky and Dicky, and I see there are other parts of Micky's life that would make for
interesting films. Christian Bale steals the show as Dicky, the drug addict brother who dreams of a comeback
boxing career that will never come. Dicky is Micky's trainer for part of the film. Bale absorbs himself
into the character of Dicky. Mark Wahlberg is supposed to be the star and yet he isn't the top actor in
this film as other actors overshadow him. Mark had passion to make this film get made and continue to train while he
waited for the film to get off the ground.
I wouldn't mind seeing another film look at another part of Micky
Ward's career because there is enough material in his life to make a couple more films at least (like his trilogy of fights
with Gotti).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Director David O Russell provides an audio commentary for the film.
THE WARRIOR'S CODE: FILMING
THE FIGHTER is a 30 minute look at making the film which features the actors, crew, and the real people the actors play.
It is a nice fact that one of Micky's trainers in the film is played by one of Micky's real trainers.
I do wish Paramount included the deleted scenes on the DVD and not just save it for Blu-ray
FINAL ANALYSIS:
THE FIGHTER works due to the great characters and the actors that play these real life people. Also
I would like to see another film on boxer Micky Ward.
this DVD review is (c)3-18-2011 David Blackwell
and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com
