D.J. Haza presents the next entry in his series of films to watch before you die…
The Fighter, 2010.
Directed by David O. Russell.
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo.
The Fighter is the amazing true story of the unsuccessful professional boxer ‘Irish’ Micky Ward (Wahlberg), his rise to become the WBU Light Welterweight World Champion and his participation in some of the greatest fights ever seen with his nemesis Arturo Gatti.
Micky lives a modest life in Lowell, Massachusetts and is trained by his older half-brother Dicky Ecklund (Bale), who had once fought Sugar Ray Robinson and believes that he knocked him down. Micky’s training and life is a mess with Dicky’s crack addiction causing mayhem and his mother’s (Leo) management putting him in harms way.
When Micky decides to break away from his family and go his own way with the support of his new girlfriend Charlene (Adams), a rift develops in the family. Micky begins to win fights again with his new management team in place and Dicky in prison for a string of offences including assaulting an officer. However, when Micky faces a tough opponent it’s Dicky’s advice that sees him through and on his release from prison Micky accepts him back into his corner and goes onto become the World Champion.
The Fighter has been hailed as great a film by many and brings to the big screen the amazing true story of the boxing brothers from Lowell. The fight scenes were actually recreated punch by punch using the original commentary from the fight and David O. Russell used the actual cameras used at the times in order to get the authentic feel of a prime time boxing fight. The Fighter is one of the best films I have seen for a long time and a terrifically crafted story of friendship, brotherly love and redemption.
The Fighter is a film you must see before you die as the performances from all are outstanding. Amy Adams shows us a side to her not seen previously and Melissa Leo and Christian Bale both won Oscars for their supporting roles.
D.J. Haza
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Originally published April 24, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
