FILM: THE FIGHTER
Review By Duncan McLeod
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo
Synopsis: The Fighter is the inspirational, true story of these two brothers who, against all the odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family, redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass, where Dicky was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard. However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell, Dicky’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse. Younger brother Micky, meanwhile, has become the family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But despite all of his work, Micky’s career is failing and he loses fight after punishing fight. Dicky and Micky’s tougher-than-nails mother, Alice (MELISSA LEO), manages his career and Dicky serves as his highly unreliable trainer. When Micky’s latest fight nearly kills him, it looks like it could all be over – until his iron-willed new girlfriend, Charlene (AMY ADAMS), convinces him to do the unthinkable: split with his family, pursue his own interests and train without his increasingly volatile and criminal brother. Now Micky has the chance of a lifetime as he earns a shot at the World Championship. But when his brother and dysfunctional family reenter his life, they must all reconcile their pasts and become more than just a family in name. With Micky and Dicky reunited, this becomes more than just a fight – it’s an all-out comeback for these brothers, their family, and their city. When it’s over, Micky will have become a World Champion, a Hall of Fame legend, and the new “Pride of Lowell”. The Fighter is a moving and often humorous drama about fighting for the people you love.
Review: Family drama makes for very interesting viewing. When it’s fuelled by drug addiction and violence the interest level is kicked up a notch. In THE FIGHTER drug addled Dicky is a fighter who is still trading on the glory of going “toe to toe with Sugar Ray” and taking him down, despite doing nothing with his career ever since.
The vengeful matriarch (Melissa Leo) is supportive of Dicky despite his addiction and even though younger brother Micky is clean and has also taken up boxing to mixed success, she feels greater love for Dicky and Micky knows it.
Wahlberg is body beautiful. His Calvin Klein days have proven that. He stands out like a broken thumb physically in terms of the rest of his ugly, scruffy, sickly looking family. Micky is the lead character but he is neither the most important nor the most effective. As he and Dicky verbally spar with each other throughout the movie, despite Dicky’s annoying persona, Bale asserts his dominance on the piece. Wahlberg is co-producer on this film and had various people including Matt Damon reading for the role opposite him.
Wahlberg knew as the audience quickly does, that Bale was perfect. Having pushed physical boundaries in THE MACHINIST, Bale was certain he could do it again here. The emaciated look is 70 percent of what makes his character so convincing. The rest is in his eyes. Audiences are endeared to Bale as Bruce Wayne and the rigidity of that character and his caped crusader convinces the audience that Bale is incapable of playing loose. It is a welcome surprise to see that freedom and character here.
The other surprise is Amy Adams. Adams typically plays restrained, girlish characters. Whilst there is still an element of class behind her portrayal of Charlene Fleming, it is very slight. The character is very ‘mouthy’ and affords Adams the ability to be free from her usual constraints. This is a role she seems to relish. Director David O. Russell has given Adams the role she needed to elevate her to the level of her fellow female counterparts such as Swank, Theron, Berry, Portman and the like.
Another film that runs on the dynamics of family drama on home (Australian) soil is ANIMAL KINGDOM. That too is about a troubled family headed by a powerful female matriarch. Both films were critically well received and their matriarchs nominated for the major awards during this award season. Melissa Leo in THE FIGHTER is aggressive and a very lively character. Her gritty, emotional role has afforded her multiple award nominations with Golden Globe success in Jan 2011. Jacki Weaver’s Janine ‘Smurf’ Cody is a cool, callous character who unravels a slow-burn of evil. Weaver’s character has an arc throughout the film. Leo’s character only has one speed and that’s full throttle. This makes her unlikeable and at times unwatchable as she beats her own family verbally into submission. Weaver’s ‘Smurf’ is more deserving of the Oscar in this reviewer’s opinion and is a much easier character to digest.
Director David O. Russell has turned out some likeable films including I HEART HUCKABEES and THREE KINGS. Despite its portrayal of a real life family and someone’s personal struggle this film is not as Earth shattering and memorable as some are saying. The three scribes involved in the screenplay have pieced together a script that features interesting characters rather than entertaining dialogue.
The producers of this movie, which include Mark Wahlberg and Darren Aronofsky (BLACK SWAN), are the real champions of this film. Wahlberg has a knack for picking quality projects like BOARDWALK EMPIRE and ENTOURAGE and Aronofsky has assured he has a finger in the two hottest pies of the season.
