It’s telling that The Fighter is named as such. A more descriptive title might have been “The Boxer,” but this is not a biopic about boxing. This movie is about fighting — the sort that takes place in and outside of the ring.
Dickie Eklund (Bale) and Micky Ward (Wahlberg) are brothers and boxing legends in their Boston suburb. The former is now a crack addict, while the latter is a rising talent. Tensions arise when, under the influence of his new girlfriend, Charlene (Adams), Micky realizes that his family may not have his best interests at heart. Dickie, his trainer, often forgets to show up for practice, while his mother, Alice (Leo), who manages Micky's career alongside her husband and Dickie, is in denial about her elder son’s drug problem. Micky severs professional ties with his family, inciting familial unrest and mental anguish for everyone involved.
Despite his career as a boxer being the framework of the film, Micky isn’t the only fighter in this film — everyone is. Alice is tasked with the dilemma of keeping her family together with her two sons at odds and her own misguided affections frequently getting in the way. Charlene quarrels while dealing with her unfair promiscuous reputation. Dickie faces the most treacherous uphill battle of all, his body betraying both his and his brother’s best interests.
The actors interact with one another beautifully, delivering a truly believable portrait of a family faced with intermittent success and tragedy. Leo is a standout in her rounded portrayal of a deeply flawed woman with endless love for her children and honest devotion to her family.
Yet Bale is the real knockout, delivering what is definitely one of, if not the, best performances of the year. Despite there being nearly nothing likable about his drug–addicted, endlessly insufferable and egotistical character, Bale captures the audience’s sympathy. He emerges as a loser who acts in every way against the true feelings in his heart. Behind Bale’s eyes is an honest and pure love for his brother and his family, which finally translates to his actions near the end of the film.
The film also excels in the technical department. O’Russell structures the film around two faux–documentaries, cleverly interlacing them to mislead the audience, leading to a final scene that casts a new, positive light on everything that has come before it. Shots of the boxing matches appear as they would on television, a neat implement that furthers the film’s documentive motif.
The Fighter
Directed by: David O. Russell
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo
Rated R, 114 min.
Opens December 7.
4.5/5 Stars
