#75: The Fighter (2010)

Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams
Academy Awards (2): Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor and Melissa Leo for Best Supporting Actress. Nominated five more times. Best Picture, Amy Adams for Best Supporting Actress, David O. Russell for Best Director, Best Writing and Best Editing.
Plot: “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.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #63

“I’m the one fighting, okay? Not you, not you, and not you.”

The Fighter earns this spot because of the acting performances, the story-line, and the fact that it is based on a true story.

Both Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg are tremendous in this movie. The chemistry they possess makes you feel that they are actually brothers. That chemistry is the life-blood for this film. Amy Adams and Melissa Leo are terrific as well in supporting roles. Great acting all around.

The story-line shifts often but never loses focus, which is a hard thing to do. Instead of focusing solely on Wahlberg’s character (Micky Ward), it bounces around to Bale’s character (Ward’s brother Dicky), to their estranged family, to Micky’s girlfriend. It’s a delicate tight-rope but well executed.

I had heard of Micky Ward prior to this film, but had no idea all the trials and tribulations he had to deal with. It’s an underdog story if there ever was one. He was fighting battles not only in the ring but out of it as well. A great film that will probably do some climbing in the near future.

UPDATE

Even if Christian Bale is a prick in real-life, it’s still worth watching his portrayal of Dicky Ward. He absolutely steals and owns every scene he is in. The main character is Micky, but Bale is so good as Dicky, he ends up being the center-piece.

The Fighter loses points for not having the most realistic boxing scenes, but the acting, led by Bale, is what has it inside the top eighty.

Fun Fact: Mark Wahlberg waived his own salary and took no upfront fee for this film. Christian Bale was paid only $250,000 for his role.

Hint for #74: This film will teach you how to correctly pronounce Babe Ruth.

Peace Be The Journey.