The Fighter

2010, 15, Directed by David O. Russell

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

You may think that a rags-to-riches tale of a boxer who doesn’t just fight for an occupation, but for life has been done before. You may even be correct. Rocky, Raging Bull, Million Dollar Baby; each film very different from the last but fundamentally similar (and all recognised by Oscar). It is a shock then that David O. Russell’s The Fighter, centering on Mark Wahlberg’s Micky Ward, is a welcome breath of fresh air. With Wahlberg, The Fighter finds its heart. He merges the perfect level of independence, whilst remaining a loyal family man; a refined individual, Ward has lived in the shadow of his brother Dicky his entire life. With Dicky, played to characterised Oscar-winning bliss by Christian Bale, the film finds its comedic, yet tragic route. A former boxing champion, the only hobby he dabbles in these days is snorting drugs. He is a mess, but underneath it all, a less independent, but loyal bloke, just like his brother. He hides behind the matriarch of the family, Melissa Leo’s Alice Ward. Loving to her offspring, vicious to intruders (which Micky’s girlfriend Charlene – a self-assured Amy Adams – soon realises), Leo delivers what could have been stereotypical, and steers it to memorable, and like Bale, award-winning status. Although O. Russell’s direction captures everything that is required, and in some cases a lot more (a pull-back sequence at the beginning of the film lingers in the memory), this is very much the performer’s film. Every cast member plays an ace here, Bale being the obvious standout (it’s impossible not to raise a smirk when he invites Sugar Ray Leonard, a cameo from the former opponent himself, for a ‘cold one’) – but his performance is complemented from the wholly understated one from Wahlberg. As the film’s heart, he provides the elements necessary for the success the film deserves, and in doing so propels the film to life.

4.5/5

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Best Picture Nominee #2: The Fighter

 Back in '77, Rocky won in the Academy Award ring against some classic heavyweights - and so with The Fighter being billed as ‘the greatest boxing movie since Rocky’ (completely forgetting Raging Bull in the process), there is pressure on David O. Russell’s effort. The truth is that The Fighter is really great, a true 'performance' film. This didn’t prevent O. Russell from securing an Oscar nomination for his deft direction – arguably, in what should have been Chris Nolan’s nomination – but somehow did prevent Mark Wahlberg, the film’s heart, from getting noticed in the Best Actor category. With Christian Bale nominated (and a shoo in), aswell as former-nominees Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, The Fighter will definitely scoop up some awards

Would it have been nominated before the 10-nomination rule?

Hell yeah, the Academy loves a clichéd rags-to-riches story like this. That isn’t to detract from the film; it’s one of the more charming efforts on this year's list and fully deserves its nomination. It’s chance here is better than most. Like Micky Ward himself, this is the underdog, albeit an obvious one.

Rating out of 5: ●●●●●

Chances out of 5: ●●●●●

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