Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 12/17/2010 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality Running Time 114 Minutes Genre Sport, Drama Director David O. Russell Writer Scott Silver Cast Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Jack McGee Studio Paramount Pictures |
THE FIGHTER (2010)
SYNOPSIS
Dicky Ecklund (CHRISTIAN BALE) is a former boxing hero
that squandered his talents and threw away his shot at
greatness.
Micky Ward (MARK WAHLBERG), his half brother, is the
struggling journeyman boxer who spent his life living in
his big brother’s shadow.
The Fighter is inspired by the true story of two brothers
who, against all the odds, come together to train for a
historic title bout that will unite their fractured family,
redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town
what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the
gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass, where Dicky
was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone
the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard.
However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell,
Dicky’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind
him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse.
Younger brother Micky, meanwhile, has become the
family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But
despite all of his work, Micky’s career is failing and he
loses fight after punishing fight. Dicky and Micky’s
tougher-than-nails mother, Alice (MELISSA LEO),
manages his career and Dicky serves as his highly
unreliable trainer. When Micky’s latest fight nearly kills
him, it looks like it could all be over – until his iron-willed
new girlfriend, Charlene (AMY ADAMS), convinces him to
do the unthinkable: split with his family, pursue his own
interests and train without his increasingly volatile and
criminal brother.
Dicky Ecklund (CHRISTIAN BALE) is a former boxing hero
that squandered his talents and threw away his shot at
greatness.
Micky Ward (MARK WAHLBERG), his half brother, is the
struggling journeyman boxer who spent his life living in
his big brother’s shadow.
The Fighter is inspired by the true story of two brothers
who, against all the odds, come together to train for a
historic title bout that will unite their fractured family,
redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town
what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the
gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Mass, where Dicky
was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone
the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard.
However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell,
Dicky’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind
him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse.
Younger brother Micky, meanwhile, has become the
family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But
despite all of his work, Micky’s career is failing and he
loses fight after punishing fight. Dicky and Micky’s
tougher-than-nails mother, Alice (MELISSA LEO),
manages his career and Dicky serves as his highly
unreliable trainer. When Micky’s latest fight nearly kills
him, it looks like it could all be over – until his iron-willed
new girlfriend, Charlene (AMY ADAMS), convinces him to
do the unthinkable: split with his family, pursue his own
interests and train without his increasingly volatile and
criminal brother.
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
Director David O. Russell’s (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees) The Fighter is a sure knock-out featuring
Oscar worthy performances by Mark Walhberg(Boogie Nights, We Own the Night), Christian Bale (The
Machinist, Batman Begins), Amy Adams(Julie & Julia, Doubt) and Melissa Leo (21 grams, Frozen River).
Micky Ward (Wahlberg), the stepping stone in the boxing industry, is lost in the shadow of his boxing
legend brother, Dicky Eklund (Bale). Unfortunately, Eklund is battling a severe crack addiction and rather
than make a comeback in the boxing industry, his addiction spirals out of control. After a series of
serious infractions Eklund is sent to prison. With his brother in jail, Ward is able to step into the center of
the ring and actually fight for himself. No longer in the shadow of the “pride of Lowell, Massachutes” and
with the motivation of his girlfriend Charlene Fleming, Ward earns back his confidence and respect;
however, Ward knows he needs his brother’s expertise in the ring if he wants to win the World
Championship belt. Released from prison and clean for eight months Eklund convinces Ward to allow him
to train him for his upcoming title fight. With Ward in the spotlight and Eklund in his corner these two
brothers are able to dominate the boxing ring until Ward retires in 2003. The way that Ward and Eklund
dominate the ring, Wahlberg and Bale dominate the screen along with their two leading ladies, Adams and
Leo. Finally, Adams breaks out of her type casted image of “the girl next door” and delivers a believable
and inspiring performance, while Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo delivers possibly the best performance of
her career to date. The relevant soundtrack is outstanding and it carries the film from one scene to the
next. This exceptional screenplay is not only well-written, well-acted, and brilliantly filmed but it is sure to
be enjoyed by adult audiences everywhere.
Oscar worthy performances by Mark Walhberg(Boogie Nights, We Own the Night), Christian Bale (The
Machinist, Batman Begins), Amy Adams(Julie & Julia, Doubt) and Melissa Leo (21 grams, Frozen River).
Micky Ward (Wahlberg), the stepping stone in the boxing industry, is lost in the shadow of his boxing
legend brother, Dicky Eklund (Bale). Unfortunately, Eklund is battling a severe crack addiction and rather
than make a comeback in the boxing industry, his addiction spirals out of control. After a series of
serious infractions Eklund is sent to prison. With his brother in jail, Ward is able to step into the center of
the ring and actually fight for himself. No longer in the shadow of the “pride of Lowell, Massachutes” and
with the motivation of his girlfriend Charlene Fleming, Ward earns back his confidence and respect;
however, Ward knows he needs his brother’s expertise in the ring if he wants to win the World
Championship belt. Released from prison and clean for eight months Eklund convinces Ward to allow him
to train him for his upcoming title fight. With Ward in the spotlight and Eklund in his corner these two
brothers are able to dominate the boxing ring until Ward retires in 2003. The way that Ward and Eklund
dominate the ring, Wahlberg and Bale dominate the screen along with their two leading ladies, Adams and
Leo. Finally, Adams breaks out of her type casted image of “the girl next door” and delivers a believable
and inspiring performance, while Oscar Nominee Melissa Leo delivers possibly the best performance of
her career to date. The relevant soundtrack is outstanding and it carries the film from one scene to the
next. This exceptional screenplay is not only well-written, well-acted, and brilliantly filmed but it is sure to
be enjoyed by adult audiences everywhere.
By David F. Ladd
Now Micky has the chance of a lifetime as he earns a shot at the World Championship. But when his
brother and dysfunctional family reenter his life, they must all reconcile their pasts and become more
than just a family in name. With Micky and Dicky reunited, this becomes more than just a fight – it’s an all-
out comeback for these brothers, their family, and their city. When it’s over, Micky will have become a
champion, a hometown legend, and the new “Pride of Lowell”. --© Paramount Pictures
brother and dysfunctional family reenter his life, they must all reconcile their pasts and become more
than just a family in name. With Micky and Dicky reunited, this becomes more than just a fight – it’s an all-
out comeback for these brothers, their family, and their city. When it’s over, Micky will have become a
champion, a hometown legend, and the new “Pride of Lowell”. --© Paramount Pictures