The Fighter (2010)

An outstanding exploration of the world of professional boxing, and the brutal effects it can have on the boxers and their families.

Starring Mark Wahlberg as Micky, an up-and-coming fighter whose career is co-managed by his mother, and his has-been boxer brother Dicky (Christian Bale). Micky looks up to his brother a lot, and seeks advice from him on how to become a world champion fighter, however, his dependency co-exists with Dicky’s addiction to crack. The older brother, who once “knocked down” Sugar Ray Leonard, is now a junkie loser, who spends his days talking about his past achievements and living in a world of fantasy, whilst ruining his brother‘s chances of becoming legendary.

Micky, fed up with the lacklustre management he receives from his drug-addicted brother and useless mother, finds strength in a new relationship with Charlene (Amy Adams). She spurs him on to greater things, in particular moving his boxing career away from his home town in order to develop. Once the brutal defeats start turning into glorious victories, Micky’s career seems destined for greatness, but he must face difficult choices on who should be standing in his corner.

It is a remarkable film, one which delves deep into a personal story and manages to find a lot of enduring themes which make for excellent viewing. The toll that a career in boxing has taken on Dickie seems like a glaring warning sign, as we watch that of Mickie’s developing, and the way that most of these characters seem to be striving for something better is devastatingly apparent. There are a lot of moments of sad poignancy, but also some very funny bits, and Bale is an absolute…dare I?…Knockout in this movie, his portrayal of the delusional has-been boxer is definitely worth watching. Wahlberg provides an authentic down-but-not-out rough kid, and Amy Adams is excellent as the fearless opposition to Micky’s family.

The Fighter has some things in common with the Rocky films, but it has a lot more in common with a film like The Wrestler, as it grapples with these tragic American sportspeople, and how their devotion to a career seems to take from them more than it gives, which offers a harsh reality for the viewer.

Wonderful film, based on a true story.