The Fighter (R) 6.5

The Fighter (2010): A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s. (7.9)

Director: David O. Russell
Writers: Scott Silver (screenplay), Paul Tamasy (screenplay)
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams

This is yet another movie version of a boxer who has grown up in rough parts of the town making it to the title fight and, yes, you guessed it, winning it. This isn't a whole lot different from many other such movies. What's different, however, is the parallel story of his brother/trainer and his substance abuse that plays a big part in the lives of everyone involved. The family means well, but unknowingly they work against the boxer almost as much as for him. The interplay and dynamics between the characters, the players and the main man is really the story more than the boxing itself. Christian Bale's portrayal of the crack addicted fallen hero is spot-on. He seems to have lost quite a lot of weight just to play the role. The two female supporting roles played by Amy Adams and Melissa Leo are very life-like. But the story itself didn't grow on me. The acting alone can carry the movie only so far and storytelling falls a bit short. Others who like boxing movies may find this fascinating. My Rating: 6.5