A Great Performance by Christian Bale

Mark Wahlberg is Micky Ward a struggling boxer who is trying to make it to the big time. His older brother Dicky (Christian Bale) is his trainer but he is actually holding Micky back by his lack of focus and drug use. After Dicky is busted and sent to prison Micky finally gets the break he needs and starts to move up the ranks.

This was a good movie for its action and story line, the cast was good and Christian Bale gave a great performance. The only draw back is it is too much like Rocky.

It would make a good addition to any collection.

Great Performances by Actors Playing Real People. A Knockout Movie!

A knockout punch throughout would best describe this 2010 movie--a true story about Micky Ward's rise to the top in the boxing world around 2003. This story has a heart too. It is the story of a totally disfunctional family--but one that is bonded together with glue in spite of all the problems.

Mark Wahlberg would have won an Oscar in any other year as the title character (Who could beat Colin Firth in The King's Speech?). He has lived the role, growing up near Lowell, Massachusetts. But he trained 4 years to play for it, and he actually became Micky Ward. He had all the lingo and moves down pat.

This is the story of a brother (Micky) who lived in his brother's shadow. The brother Dicky (Christian Bale) had actually fought Sugar Ray Leonard (who appears in a cameo in the movie) and supposedly knocked him out. At the time of the movie, though, Dicky lives in a crack house, is addicted to crack and alcohol, and is totally worthless. However, he is still Micky's trainer when he shows up. His life is so bad that he goes to prison during the movie when he tries to portray a policeman while setting up a sting to rob an innocent driver who solicits a prostitute. In a total switch from a sophisticated Bruce Wayne in Batman, Christian Bale nails the Boston accent and the stroke-like, manic behavior of the real Dicky Eklund (different last name because their mother had been married twice).

Speaking of the mother, innocent Melissa Leo won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress portraying Alice, the mother of these two boys and 7 other girls. She is the mother from hell, pushing both boys into the boxing world and hoping to cash in on their earnings. She is a true Hollywood mother, and don't get in her way. She is Micky's manager until Dicky goes to jail and things start to change because Micky has a girlfriend.

Amy Adams scored an Oscar nomination as Charlene, Micky's girlfriend (who he later married). Charlene has problems too. She is a college dropout, working in a bar with bawdy patrons. She has some quick words defending her boyfriend against his mother and brother in the movie. But in the end, she is Micky's savior--that is, until Dicky reappears after he gets out of jail.

If you have any emotions, you will tear up during this movie--even though it is a macho story taking place in the cold town of Lowell. The bond between the brothers is the source of it, and the struggle to make it to the top adds to the emotions. If you have ever known a little brother who worships his big brother, you can relate to Micky Ward.

In a special feature to the DVD, you get to meet most of the real real people who are portrayed in this movie--Micky, Dicky, Micky's father, Mickey O'Keefe (a trainer). The special feature also explains who all the actors were chosen for their roles and how the movie made it to the screen.

This movie--a combination of Rocky and Brothers--is one that you don't want to miss--even if you don't like boxing!

Buy for your boyfriend/brother/cousin

Great character acting and some really unique material based on a true story. I have no complaints with the script, the acting, or the actual movie making part of this film. The best actor portrayal in this is the character Dickie played by Christial Bale. The director did a great job unfolding this as a unique viewpoint, and it was entertaining-
but not amazing
My overall vote is this one is not a keeper, not a movie you need to watch over and over, and not a big enough Rocky triumph. You just felt like the lead character was going to get sucked back into the dysfunction as soon as the credits rolled.
No happy place for the viewer to glob into. Let your boyfriend watch it while you clean out your closet.

The Fighter

Great movie. I gre up a town over from micky, i saw him on the street passing by every now and then. I never thought that was his story though, great movie, amazing acting, 100% pure boston. Loved it. probably one of the best sport movies of this century. It's a definite movie to keep.

Good movie, but missing something for me.

I bought this because of the awards the actors won. (I usually wait to watch movies when the DVDs come out because movie theaters irritate me, always someone kicking back of my seat.) I liked the story and the characters, but it was not an out of the park hit. I liked it enough to watch it again, but consider it light watching without alot of emotion involved. It was worth the eBay buy and I have recommended it to friends.