The Fighter – Review

Reviews, Theatrical Reviews, Top Story

An emotional roller-coaster ride that packs a punch, with award-worthy performances.

Trailers for The Fighter may have you thinking that you’ve seen it before, like it’s worth passing up. It may seem reminiscent of every other sports genre film. They are in fact all about an underdog who fights to prove himself worthy; fighting for what he believes in. Featuring some of the strongest performances all year, The Fighter has every element that made Rocky and The Wrestler among the best movies of the years of their release.

Based on the life of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward, The Fighter seemed like it was fighting just to be completed. Mark Wahlberg trained for four years, even while making other movies, to play Ward. Casting for Ward’s half brother Dicky Eklund seemed troublesome as well; after Brad Pitt and Matt Damon both dropped the role, Christian Bale was recruited. While Wahlberg spent years trying to gain the physique of a boxer, Bale had to drop weight to play his crack-addicted half-brother. The film was truly a passion project and all of that is translated onscreen.

Dicky Eklund is a boxer whose heyday has come and gone. His biggest claim to fame is having knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard, and years later he’s still riding on his local title as the “Pride of Lowell.” Now he’s addicted to crack but believes HBO wants to do a documentary on his comeback. In reality, they’re documenting his downward spiral. Dicky is a cartoonish character with manic hand gestures and a jack-o-lantern grin, the creepiest character Bale has played since Patrick Bateman.

Even though Dicky spends more time in a crackhouse than the boxing ring, he is still determined to train his half-brother Micky, trying to prepare him for his next big fight. When Micky is beaten terribly by one opponent, his girlfriend Charlene (Amy Adams, playing against type) starts to show him that maybe his brother doesn’t have his best interest at heart. But it’s not only Dicky that Charlene needs to get through, it’s also their mother Alice (Melissa Leo).

Alice is strong-willed and tough as nails, and will do anything to keep Charlene from influencing her boy. After all, family should stick together, as demonstrated by the posse of Micky’s big haired, loud mouthed sisters and half-sisters who follow Alice around wherever she goes. But luckily for Micky, Charlene is just as strong-willed as his family. The film’s title could apply to every member of the cast.

The Fighter is equal parts uplifting, terrifying, gripping, and emotional. It’s a story about a soft spoken fighter who has a family that wants to speak for him. He finds his voice through the woman who loves him and supports him. He defies all odds, winning match after match to help overcome his brother’s mistakes and become the new “Pride of Lowell”. Wahlberg’s performance is nomination worthy, but it’s Christian Bale and Melissa Leo’s haunting portrayals of their larger than life characters that will more than likely gain an award win. Like Rocky and The Wrestler, The Fighter is a must see.


Director: David O. Russell
Notable Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams
Writer(s): Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson

Jenny is proud to be the First Lady of Inside Pulse Movies. She gives female and mommy perspective, and has two kids who help with rating family movies. (If they don't like 'em, what's the point?) She prefers horror movies to chick flicks, and she can easily hang with the guys as long as there are several frou-frou girlie drinks to be had.