The Fighter (2010)

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  March 10, 2012

  fb1463751009

  "The Fighter" is a harrowing story about a very dysfunctional family; it seems like the only one that thinks correctly within that family is the main character, played by Mark Wahlberg, Micky Ward, but it isn't the story about Micky Ward that we are invested in. Don't get me wron... read moreg, the story is about Micky Ward but his story is not as captivating as his brother's, Dicky Ward. What a performance by Christian Bale. It wasn't Mark Wahlberg's lack of a true convincing performance that he wasn't able to make his character relatable -- I am led to believe that that is the character that he was playing as. Incredibly entertaining. The cinematography in certain portions of the movie was gorgeous. I appreciated the "ESPN-esque" viewing we have of the fights that witness. One of the biggest problems I've had about this movie is how there isn't a lot of substance passed the dramatic plot. "The Fighter"'s a great movie, but doesn't do anything inventive or surprising.

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  February 15, 2012

  stormyweather980

  I enjoyed this one, but not nearly as much as I was led to believe I would by the previews and the magazine reviews I read prior. I think Christian Bale does a great job acting in this one, but there wasn't enough action for my tastes, and it was rather predictable. Still worth w... read moreatching though, just overrated.

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  February 1, 2012

  FilmFanatik

  The Fighter re-teams Mark Wahlberg with director David O. Russell, as well as Mark with Christan Bale. This is another in the long list of boxing movies that aren't really about the boxing. They're more about the characters and what they're going through rather than the sport its... read moreelf. Christian Bale steals the show with his performance, but only in the first half. The one thing I've always said about Bale was that his personality oozes through his performances, and so it's never really the character he's playing but him instead. This isn't the case in the first half of the movie. After his character goes through a rough patch, he goes back to being Bale again. It works for the roles he chooses, but I can always sense it. Mark Wahlberg gives a good performance, but its very small compared to his co-star's. It's odd that the movie is about a boxer, but Bale's performance overshadows the main protagonist and confuses you as an audience member. Fortunately, it works in this case. The story itself is a little different than your average boxing true story. It's generally intense, and you get very caught up in it, so I don't have much to complain about with it in that department. It's a gripping film, but not really one I'd want to see over and over again.

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• 
  
  December 31, 2011

  Redlats

  This movie is called "The Fighter". You would think it is about a boxer, and sure enough, Mark Wahlberg is cast as a boxer who has lost a few fights. But "The Fighter" may also be Christian Bale who is cast as a washed-up boxer who has fallen on hard times and is now a crack co... read morecaine addict and a lousy trainer.

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  November 9, 2011

  jamers2011

  The Fighter was the one movie that I knew I had to see in 2010. My two favorite actors are Amy Adams and Christian Bale, so I knew I had to see this film to see them together. As the release date came closer, and as more and more Oscar buzz flowed, I knew this was going to be a ... read moregreat one. It is. This film is easily among the 5 best films of the year, if not the best.
  
  The best part of this film is the acting. Unbelievable! The three main supporting cast members give some of the best performances I have ever seen. They have to go down as one strongest supporting casts ever. I believe Christian Bale will finally receive his long overdue Oscar. His performance is simply incredible. He completely takes ownership of the role and simply disappears entirely into the character. His character changes so much throughout the film and no better actor could have delivered as affectively. I also loved Melissa Leo's performance. Absolutely stunning! She is so real and believable as the tough mother. Her performance is truly remarkable. I believe Melissa Leo will win the Oscar for best supporting actress, but it was Amy Adams that completely made this film for me. Her performance is phenomenal! She completely steals every scene. She flawlessly portrays the quiet but tough Charlene. This film shows Amy Adams at her best. She, too, will receive an Oscar nomination, hopefully the win. Also, her performance really allows Mark Wahlberg to shine as well. He gives a good performance, but the entire film is dominated by stellar supporting actors.
  
  A thing that surprised me was the screenplay. The script is simply fantastic. It is so real, strong, and genuinely portrays what the people of the area and time would have been like. The script also has many humorous moments that were surprising, but absolutely perfect.
  
  The Fighter is so much more than a typical sports or boxing film. It focuses more on relationships, family, and conflicts as opposed to the boxing.
  
  I have to mention the final fight scene.....brilliant. The perfect ending to a great movie. After being blessed with the first 90 minutes of the film, we are treated by an awesome final boxing scene. Loved it!
  
  Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, this is a brilliant film. Far better than Rocky and Raging Bull will ever be. This deserved every amount of praise it received. Props to Mark Wahlberg for pushing to create this film!
  
  Absolutely loved it. One of my favorites!

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  October 24, 2011

  murphmann93

  This film deserves every possible award out there. I went to see this at the cinemas after being forced to see it. As one who always judges a book by it's cover, I already considered it to be awful and was expecting to be dissapointed. I was wrong. This is one of my all time favo... read moreurite films and the cast were absolutely incredible. Considering this to be a true story, it makes the film even more heart wrenching and by the time the film had ended I was quite sad that it had. I'd definitely expect that Micky Ward and his family will be unbelievably proud of the film that was based on their life and so they should be.

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  October 6, 2011

  TheGame90

  Probably the most overrated film of 2010. Christian Bale was great. Amy Adams was Great. Melissa Leo was great. And Mark Wahlberg was even good for being Mark Wahlberg. But overall....It just wasn't a big deal about it.It was a little interesting because it's a true story and all... read more. But I wouldn't call it touching.

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  October 1, 2011

  kenstachnik

  Is there anything funnier than Christian Bale repeatedly jumping out of 2nd story crack house window just to avoid is mother?

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  August 16, 2011

  bottcorecords1

  A feelgood film about a boxer based on a true story? An uplifting sports movie about overcoming the odds? Well, sort of. Yes and no. The Fighter is Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), and the challenge he's overcoming is his brother, the fighter Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). Dicky ... read moredoesn't just dominate the conversation, he is the conversation. He's the type of character who must be the center of attention at all times. Being addicted to crack only fuels the fire of ego-mania for the man who claims to have once "knocked down" Sugar Ray Leonard (even though it's entirely possible he just slipped). Micky is a promising up-and-comer, but his career is being doubly sabotaged by the twin threats of his trainer/brother and manager/mother, Alice (Melissa Leo). The family is so caught up in "the Dicky Show", (with Alice cheerleading Dicky constantly), that no one takes any responsibility for Micky's career, or more specifically, the damage they repeatedly do to it by mis-managing him. In comes Charlene (Amy Adams), a bartender who strikes up a relationship with Micky. She becomes the voice he never had when it came to speaking up for himself to his family.
  
  Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg play characters that couldn't be any more opposite, and both do great things in their own ways with the roles given to them. Melissa Leo also makes a strong impression as the domineering mother, but really this is Bale's shining moment. Dicky the crack addict man baby shows some self-awareness beneath all the self aggrandizing. It's not a subtle role but aspects of it must be subtle to keep an element of surprise to the movie. It's a new take on a well-worn story, but the performances put this film a notch above most other films of it's class.

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  July 28, 2011

  SirPant

  I can't help but feel sorry for Mark Wahlberg. He put some work into this film, he's not the worlds greatest actor but considering his previous efforts, he did rather well I thought - but was totally overshadowed by Christian Bale's brilliant performance. Ouch! Still, after you s... read moreee the clip of the two real life brothers, you understand it is actually perfect casting - he and David O. Russell are obviously friends too after working with each other in most of Russell's films and he has a lot to be grateful for. This film is all about Christian Bale's performance as Dicky Ekland, it's another top performance from him. I thought Melissa Leo was good too but I'm not sure why she and particularly Amy Adams were both nominated but well done to them I guess. What I like best about this film though is that it concentrates on the important element of the story which is the brothers and their relationship with each other, this aspect of the film is handled so well, it's perfect film making. It's not really about the boxing, It could easily have been a metaphor but that only adds to its likability, it's all true, making it a perfect feel good film.

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• Mark Wahlberg as "Irish" Mickey Ward
• Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund
• Amy Adams as Charlene Fleming
• Melissa Leo as Alice Ward
• Jack McGee as George Ward
• Mickey O'Keefe as Mickey O'Keefe
• Melissa McMeekin as "Little Alice" Eklund
• Bianca Hunter as Cathy "Pork" Eklund
• Erica McDermott as Cindy "Tar" Eklund

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

• 
  Raging Bull (100%)
• 
  Rocky (96%)
• 
  Three Kings (88%)
• 
  The Champ (47%)

• • Dicky Eklund: Head-Body-Head-Body.
  • "Irish" Mickey Ward: Head-Body-Head-Body.
• • Charlene Fleming: Deal. I'll see you in Mickey's corner but otherwise go fuck yourself.
• • Charlene Fleming: What kind of name is Saul Mamby?
  • "Irish" Mickey Ward: Black and Jewish.
• • Charlene Fleming: Stop calling me a MTV girl, whatever the fuck that means.
• • Dicky Eklund: [in reference to Charlene saying that Sugar Ray Leonard slipped] Do you think I knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard?
  • Micky Ward: Yeah, sure I do. You were the pride of Lowell. You were my hero, Dicky.
  • Dicky Eklund: I was. I was.
• • Dicky Eklund: I swear to God. I will quit if it means you'll come back, all right? But I want you to think about somethin'. Micky has a chance to do somethin' that I never did. That in my time I never had.

• The fighter in the house, Cat And Mouse, the dog(spike) pounds the cat, Which movie is this?  Answer »
• in which movie does Steve Mcqueen star as a fire fighter, and help people escape the flames of a building engulfed in flames?  Answer »
• In the movie Snatch, what was Brad Pitt?  Answer »
• In STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH, how does the jedi Plo Koon meet his demise?  Answer »

No quizzes for The Fighter. Want to create one?

• The Fighter Trailer
• The Fighter: I'm The One Who's Fighting
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• The Fighter: Mark Wahlberg Featurette
• The Fighter: Christian Bale Featurette
• The Fighter - Trailer 2
• The Fighter- Trailer 2
• The Fighter (Spanish)
• The Fighter (German)

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