'The Fighter' A Review

On paper 'The Fighter' reads like a classic sports underdog flick but its really about a complicated relationship between two brothers. It's about brotherly love. It takes place in 1993. The movie follows the true story of Micky Ward(played by Mark Wahlberg) on his journey to a welterweight title shot. The movie opens with a sequence of Micky and his brother Dicky Eklund(Christian Bale) walking the streets of their home town Lowell, MA interacting with locals. HBO has started filming a documentary about Dicky which he says is about his comeback as a fighter but is actually about crack addiction.

(spoilers)

Dicky was a successful boxer in the late 70's, his career culminated in a fight with Sugar Ray Lenoard which he talks about endlessly. Because of that fight he's named 'The Pride of Lowell.' But he never really made it. And no one ever really let it go. Micky is perpetually in Dicky's shadow. Dicky is charismatic and larger than life, charming and engaging. Micky is simple, introverted, glossed over, maybe even a little slow. The family marginalizes Micky and takes advantage of him. Dicky is in the throws of his addiction and is unreliable for Micky's training. Charlene a local bartender gets together with Micky and gives him a fresh perspective. Micky puts his family aside and focus back in on boxing.

Christian Bale is absolutely mesmerizing to watch. Micky's progress to the title isn't the focus of the movie Bale and Wahlbergs chemistry is the focus of the movie. Their complicated, multi-layered love jumps off the screen. I've never seen a movie that portrayed a close sibling relationship so well. At one point Dicky gets arrested and is being brutalized by cops, Micky comes to help and gets his hand broken. This is the point where Micky leaves Dicky behind. Because of his imprisonment Dicky gets sober and a fresh perspective. Once sober Bale's performance becomes much more focused and we get a glimpse of who Dicky really is. After his imprisonment the movie starts to really cook. Micky has successful fights and Dicky is realizing his potential.

Everyone in the film is dynamic. Amy Adams as Charlene is a tough clear head, Micky and Dicky's sisters are almost like a Greek chorus. My only problem was with Melissa Leo who played the mom. She's so conniving and convoluted that I didn't believe her change. Bale on the other hand is totally believable. He realizes the error of his ways, he's humble, he makes amends.
I can't say enough about the chemistry between Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. Thats the movie, neither of them is the star, they both are. Wahlberg performance is understated in comparison to Adams and Bale but justly so. He's at the heart of the movie but the character is mailable thats why he didn't get the title shot before, he's a strong fighter not a strong personality.

My favorite moment of the film comes almost at the end. Wahlberg has his title shot. It's the 8th round. Wahlberg is losing in points but still on his feet. Between rounds Bale grabs Wahlbergs neck and puts their foreheads together. Keep in mind I'm paraphrasing.

Bale: This is your time. I had my chance and I blew it. This is your time. You gotta do it. You gotta be world champ. We need it. You gotta do it for Lowell. Take all the shit we've been threw, all the anger, all the mess and put it in there. You're Micky Ward. Head, Body, Head. Say it with me, Say it!
Wahlberg: (through mouth guard) Head, Body, Head.
Bale: You're Micky Ward. Go.

And he wins. He Wins.