Movie Review: The Fighter

Way back when, your author used to fancy himself a movie critic. And on occasion, some people he hasn't talked to in a while will immediately ask if he still reviews movies. Since he usually has to begrudgingly admit that he is still waiting tables instead, there will occasionally be movie reviews posted here at BMC—not necessarily new or even the most recent releases, but still technically reviews—just so he can say he indeed still bitches about what's getting too much/not enough attention. Reviews will offer a quick take that ends with a brief summarizing thought that, in the spirit of Metacritic or Sound Opinions, will be in green (denoting a positive opinion), yellow (mixed opinion) or red (negative opinion). And sorry, but no star-ratings or letter grades.

Today's review: "The Fighter," originally released December 10, 2010.


THREE THINGS I LIKED:

1. THE WELCOME RETURN OF DAVID O. RUSSELL — It's only his fifth feature film in nearly two decades—and his first in six years since I ♥ Huckabees—but considering the struggles about getting this film made, Russell's style gives The Fighter some real soul. He might be brutal to work with, but what he churns out typically shows that there was some real passion in the project. This film in the very best sense retains the director's commitment to quality. 
2. THE ACTION OUTSIDE THE RING IS JUST AS ENTERTAINING — It would be easy to have any film about boxing rely mostly on the outcome of the big fight, but for most of its running time, The Fighter focuses more on whether "Irish" Micky Ward
   (Mark Wahlberg) can overcome the family that's simultaneously managing his career and holding it back too. His older half brother, Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), is a crack-addicted has-been and now serves as Micky's trainer, while Melissa Leo plays Alice, his manager mother who thinks she can represent her son in a man's world. While they're both technically in Micky's corner, it's apparent for much of the movie that they're actually working against him.
3. DOES THE WORKING-CLASS STORY PROUD — If you're like me and are rather tired of the whole rash of Boston area stories of similar communities and thick accents in recent years, then that makes The Fighter even that much more of a triumph. There's something that feels a bit more authentic in the overall portrayal of the underdog nature in Lowell, Mass., and what emerges is perhaps the most rousing of the Best Picture nominees.

THREE THINGS I DIDN'T:

1. THE CONVENTIONAL CENTER — Let us not forget that in the end, this is still a boxing movie. A certain aura of predictability is expected and comes with the territory, I suppose.
2. THE THIRD ACT — That previous point noted, it was a little discouraging when the narrative that had been treating a championship as something secondary to standing up to his family suddenly shifts to make for a tidier ending. We're kind of given an ending that almost feels like we had to be given.
3. THE SUPPORTERS GET TO OVERSHADOW THE LEAD — Mark Wahlberg brings an admirable amount of subtlety to his role, but that of course has led to his performance being overshadowed by the showier turns from Bale and Leo. Additionally, many rush to praise Bale for dropping so much weight to play his part but I guess it's just assumed that Wahlberg's always in great condition—even if he had to work out intensely to prepare.

25 WORDS OR LESS:

The Fighter breathes exhilarating life into a genre that you might have thought was already beaten to death.