The Fighter

One could be right in thinking that there might be nothing new in The Fighter. It’s a true life biographical tale, it’s about boxing and it’s about how an underdog rises to the occasion. Guilty on all counts but dismissing The Fighter as yet another boxing film would be a big mistake. Of course, it’s predictable but like some good films this one’s not about what happened as much as it’s about how it happened.

Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is one of those boxers who are ‘stepping stone’ for others are on their way to challenge the champ of the day. Managed by his mother Alice (Melissa Leo), who has a softer spot for his older brother Dicky (Christian Bale), who also trains him, Mickey’s used as a pawn by everyone around him. Always under the thumb of Dicky who once famously knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard, Mickey is put through hell by Dicky. He even forces Mickey to fight someone who is stronger than him in a match where his original opponent walks out. Micky with the help of new love of life, Charlene(Amy Adams), decides to go his own way. With his mother looking the other way Dicky goes deeper into his cocaine addiction and when an HBO documentary, which Dicky tells people is about his alleged comeback, shows the world the truth about his crack addiction, Mickey knows he has made the right decision. With a new trainer, and a new manager along with his step-father, Mickey becomes hot enough for a title shot. Unknown to his team Mickey wins the last fight before the title shot with a few tips from Dicky. With one shot at glory, Mickey now needs the old crew of Alice and Dicky along with the new team of Charlene and his trainer to help him win the title, but the two don’t see eye-to-eye.

David O. Russell infuses such a sense of manic energy into The Fighter that it no longer remains a mere boxing film. Rather he makes The Fighter a tale about people more troubled than the next one fighting a battle much bigger than boxing. Even with predictable plot-points Russell takes the screenplay to some other level thanks to four great performances that act as the foundation.

Christian Bale, who’d in all probability will notch up an Oscar for his supporting act, for the first time shows that he’s more than a single expression number that he had become. Bale makes Dicky so organic that he doesn’t remain distant even when he’s making life a living hell for his younger brother. Another probable Oscar winner from the cast, Melissa Leo makes Alice one of the rare acts where the line dividing opposing emotions gets blurred. Her bravura performance where Alice balances her two sons and seven daughters is equally chilling and poignant. Amy Adams makes Charlene like the girl you know too well and yet never lets familiarity become an impediment. Mark Wahlberg’s Mickey might not be the most exciting character when compared to the other three but his isn’t an easy role. While the other have author backed lines and moments Wahlberg keeps Mickey up there for most of the film on his own.

Boxing has had a long affair with Hollywood and everyone from Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Rober De Niro have won glory for portraying boxers and The Fighter joins the fabled list with much ease. The boxing scenes might not be as riveting as the ones in Martin Scorsese’s seminal masterpiece Raging Bull, the drama however is as good as Raging Bull. The gritty camerawork adds to the overall mood of the tough Boston neighborhood that David O. Russell takes us into. Don’t miss this one.

Rating: 3 ½ out of 5

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo

Screenplay by: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson

Directed by: David O. Russell

Image: www.wikipedia.com