The Fighter

Fantastic movie. Got me so excited about boxing I bought some boxing gloves and a speed bag. Got pretty good. Challenged my neighbor to a bout at the local Y. He proceeded to beat me to a pulp and now I need all my veneers redone.

I went with my girlfriend to see the film, making an effort to convince her that this boxing themed film called THE FIGHTER was worthy of watching. I did not expect to be utterly blown away by the amazing performances of the main actors.The fighting scenes seemed so real, that I found people seated nearby flinching and backing onto the cushions of their seats, as Micky was repeatedly pummelled and punched, blood and sweat flying. Those that were squeamish, hunched closer to their partners, as if in fear of receiving similar blows to their sides..The audience sat silently watching this awesome story unfold..a most touching, emotionally draining portrayal of the real life boxing step brothers Micky Ward and a gaunt and aging heroine addict and has-been boxing champ Dicky Eklund.For those hesitant to watch because'it's just another boxing film', well I must share there is certainly plenty of heart stopping violence during the boxing matches. However I assure you, this is not a film only about the sport.. Mark Walhberg produced a film that is a wonderful study of the human condition, about a family's deeply entrenched with love and loyalty and over came the odds and how they brought pride and joy to the ordinary folks in small town Lowell who continue to worship their working class heroes, these two brothers.After watching the film, I went about telling one and all to please go view this film! Word spread to as far as Japan. My friend there tells me The Fighter will premier in Tokyo on March 26th 2011. The international audience will be entertained by the portrayal of the crazy antics of this madcap family.Christian Bale gave an amazing, incredibly generous un-self conscious performance.. My teenaged daughter whapsapped me from Canada saying 'I couldn't recognize that was Batman!'Christian, new winner of Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, delivered so realistic a portrayal of loving but aimless older brother Dicky, having delusions of a boxing fight comeback. Struggling to overcoming his years of heroine addiction, and finally coming clean after some jail time, becomes the story's real hero when he helps his younger brother triumph against odds to win a title match.The Fighter is pure cinematic magic, that left the audience spellbound, as we watched in baited breath rallying through this colorful family all the way till the final scenes with the heart pounding boxing match that left me drained. With what hardships this family went through, the glorious and exhilarating fight at the end, made the triumph all the more sweet.I absolutely fell in love with this story, such that I had to take my dear husband to accompany to watch again. And upon viewing a second time, I saw more details that I missed in my first viewing.All the actors did a marvelous acting in their respective roles, Melissa Leo absolutely deserved that Oscar..Amy Adams with those gorgeous blue eyes can at once be the beguiling temptress, and those same eyes can instantly change to spew firelight as she tangles with Dicky and Micky's hellcat sisters.Finally, I wish to say a huge THANK YOU to Christian Bale..You deserved your Oscar, THANK YOU for being in a film that left my husband's attention glued to the cinema screen, and be mesmerized for over two hours, he was so enchanted by the story and your acting, he failed to notice his dear wife crying through the latter half of film. Thank you.. and I predict YOU will have more oscar nominations in the future..and a billion more fans..I will buy the video to add to my collection.

Mark Wahlberg may have been the main role as Mickey Ward, a Lowell born and raised boxer, with his overbearing mother, Alice Ward, played brilliantly by Melissa Leo (an Oscar winning performance as well as the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Golden Globe Award). Christian Bale plays his older half brother, Dicky Englund, in his Oscar winning performance. He also won the Golden Globe as well.Both Leo and Bale submerge themselves into their characters almost unrecognizable at times. You just want to smack the sense out of Dicky sometimes but you can't help to like him even if he wasted away on drugs and alcohol in a crackhouse. Leo's Oscar speech may have earned her a spot on the permanent Oscar reel highlights of unforgettable speeches. Her little faux pas came after she saw the people in the crowds. We're lucky that she didn't faint into elderly Kirk Douglas's arms that night. Leo's an actor's actor. She's everywhere in bit parts and finally until two years ago, she earned her first Oscar nomination in a small film, "Frozen River," about a desperate mother in upstate New York. Leo's acting career spans three decades including a role on the series, "Homicide," and I've been watching her ever since grow and evolve as an actress.The film also casts a police officer O'Keefe who is really a cop and trainer. He's the real deal and he even had to audition for the part. Amy Adams earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as Mickey's girlfriend, Charlene, and she showed another side of her acting range.The film had some minor issues but it was a great film to watch at times. I really related to the characters who were blue collar and working class. Mark Wahlberg did a superb job but he's a neighborhood boy who lived nearby in Dorchester. This project was very personal to him as well. Jack McGee was fine as the father, George Ward. I don't recognize the seven actresses who played Dicky and Micky's sisters.I thought it was wonderful that they filmed this movie in Lowell, Massachusetts. Besides the fact that I would have preferred a full-screen version, the widescreen was fine. I enjoyed watching with French subtitles below by my choice. I just wished that they had incorporated more into the special features category to help know more about the history of the brothers, the family, and the actors. The making was about 30 minutes long and okay but I thought the DVD could have even incorporated the Awards especially for Bale and Leo who won many awards and rightfully so for their performances.

Una muy buena película, recomendable por la interpretación de Christian Bale, excelente!!!. Lo malo es que la calidad de la caja del blue ray, no es buena.

Brilliant film & performance from all the cast especially Mellisa Leo & Christian Bale. Well deserved of winning the Oscars.

aber bedient auch das gängige Bild vom mühseligen Kampf einfacher Leute um Erfolg, Anerkennung und Wertschätzung. Und nur die Mental wirklich starken, setzen sich nur durch, wenn sie nicht zuviel erwarten. Man kann den Film gut als mahnendes Beispiel mit dem Unterhaltungswert sehr guter Schauspieler betrachten. Wie ehemals in Rocky 1 u.2. ist auch diese Story kein Flopp.

Alles bestens. Schnell und zuverlässig.

Ein super Drama über den Aufstieg eines Underdogs und den Fall eines Talents, zufälligerweise Brüder. Christian Bale mit einer tollen Darbietung des drogensüchtigen Bruders, nach einer wahren Begebenheit