The Fighter

Directed by David O Russell who directed The Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees (both also starring Wahlberg), this movie tells us the story of the Pride of Lowell - Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale) and his brother Mickey Ward (Wahlberg). As a fan of boxing films, I was very much anticipating this movie. I LOVE Mark Wahlberg, and am a huge Christian Bale fan. And I was not disappointed.

Christian Bale, the Pride of Lowell, was a former boxer who in his prime knocked down Sugary Ray Leonard, and has been living on the glory of this single accomplishment since. His life has gone to shit, he is a meth head, practially homeless, but he trains Mickey with all the pride and love he's got in him - when he can remember to show up that is.

Mark Wahlberg plays "Irish" Mickey Ward, Dickie's younger brother, whose potential as a fighter is severaly handicapped by his drug addict brother trainer, his crazy family lead by the FANTASTIC Melissa Leo, 7 or so trailer trash sisters with hideous 80's hairstyles, and a general lack of opportunity - being booked fights he cannot win, bad management etc...

Without giving the plot away, Mickey gets a real shot at making something of himself, and has to choose between his family and his one real opportunity.

This movie was intense, driven, funny, and very obviously made with a huge amount of love for the people portrayed. The performances are unbelievable. Christian Bale again loses a massive amount of weight to play Dickie. He gets everything right here. His face, the "meth mouth", his swagger. He invests his entire physicality to this character and I think he will win the Academy Award for this film.

Mark Wahlberg (one of my celebrity crushes) is as hot as is humanly possible to be. I believe he trained for something like 4 years for this film. His boxing is very believable. His muscles are numerous (!). But seriously, he did a good job with this role.

For me, aside from Bale, the standout was definitely Melissa Leo who plays thier mother Alice Ward. She is just hideous (in that 80's big hair, chain smoking, fake nails way) and so so so very good. Her love for her family and fierce protectiveness over Dicky is beautiful. The scene where Alice finds Dicky in the crack house and they sing together as she drives them away is both very strange and very touching.

The 7 sisters are also very good. They are the epitome of 80's (but it's the 90's) white trash, but love their brothers something fierce.

Amy Adams is good too as Charlene, Mikey's girlfriend.

Oh and the soundtrack is good too!

I loved this movie. 4/5