The Fighter

In boxing movies, the classic and accepted format is for the hero to be a sympathetic underdog. They must be down on their luck, all odds against them, no chance in Hell of these being overcome. All opponents must be lumbering thugs with dribble trickling down their chins as they wallop their meaty guns around the ring, seemingly having the upper hand as the hero struggles his way through the match, yet somehow the hero prevails. "The Fighter" takes on this well-known template with much pride, making ample use of it, trained well to be a strong, heavyweight contender in the competitive world of sports flicks.

David O. Russell's biopic is as much a family drama as it is a glove-clobbering feature, if not more. Taking place in the mid '80s, it tells the true story of Micky Ward (nicknamed "Irish") and his half-brother Dicky Eklund, both Irish-American boxers. Dicky (Christian Bale, "American Psycho") is the trainer of Micky (Mark Wahlberg, "Boogie Nights") as the latter attempts to get back into the game and hopefully reach the top.

Micky's manager is his mother, Alice (Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"), a hard-nosed woman who believes no one, bar close relations, should be trusted for advice. The family is a big one, with sisters galore, all of whom have a say in the boxing business. Dicky is the pride of the city (Lowell, Massachusetts, to be exact), having previously defeated Sugar Ray Leonard, causing Micky to live under a shadow.

Meanwhile, Micky is dating Charlene (Amy Adams, "Enchanted"), a bar waitress who has certain opinions about the way her boxer boyfriend is running his business, leading to some fights (domestic, not in-the-ring fights) between she and the whole of Micky's family. To add to this melodrama, Dicky is addicted to crack cocaine (resulting in an HBO documentary crew following him around) and ends up in serious trouble with the law.

When the opponent who Micky has been training for is switched with another and much heavier contender, the underdog is defeated, losing out on a big opportunity, causing his confidence to shatter. Frustrated that he has disappointed his vast family once again, Micky finds himself in a dilemma as to whether or not he should dump his dysfunctional fam and go on to a more professional business outlet.

"The Fighter" is filled with soap opera dramatics, as family members fall out, argue and cry their little hearts out. Those expecting a shorts-and-all slugfest may be taken aback, as the ding-ding-dings of boxing bells take a back seat to family matters. It's certainly overdone and a little worn-out by the final act, but with such great acting as this, melodrama can be worth the occasional corniness.

Wahlberg's character is a much quieter personality than his trainer/sibling, though talkative and charming upon opening his mouth. He knows he's being dragged down by his overbearing family as they try to run his boxing career, his mother claiming that he should stick to whatever they say because they're family. He loves them, but he knows they are only holding him back as he tries to really make a name for himself.

Bale has the figure of a punch-drunk anorexic and the energy of a sugar-snorting toddler. His character is a loud one, the excited type (most likely attributed to his drug addiction), giving Bale much room to swing his fists like the committed scenery-gnawer he is. The skeletal physique the "3:10 to Yuma" actor has taken on (similar to that of his mega-slim role in "The Machinist") is one of many memorabilia to take away from what is arguably Bale's best performance in years. Go Batman!

Adams takes on the role of a bar gal who's not afraid of her boyfriend's controlling family. Looked down upon by Micky's mother and sisters, Charlene is determined to split the up-and-coming boxer from their domineering claws. The flame-haired "Julie & Julia" actress may not have much chemistry with Mr. Wahlberg, but she's a fine performer.

Leo (who recently beat Adams to the punch at the Golden Globes) is a wonderful presence here as Micky's mother-knows-best mama. Her character is not necessarily hateable, just selfish and overly protective of her youngest boy, who she believes will be her next champion. She thinks she and she alone can guide her son to victory -- she can't.

The boxing matches don't reach the stylish nature of that of Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" saga, but they pack a punch of both uplifting and saddening impact. Opponents groan and swing their gloves at each other in effective slow motion, tension utilised perfectly, especially in the emotional final fight. They wave their fists as we slide our bottoms to the edge of our seats, even though we're pretty sure as to what the result will be.

"The Fighter" is a film that rests on the shoulders of its talented actors, each of whom are on more-than-top-form -- Bale in particular. They take it through melodrama, through shouting and yelling, through tender moments, and through prize fighting. They're a fantastic cast in what is a solid blue-collar sports movie, certainly one of the better of the genre. It's not quite a knockout, but it's got a rather strong jab that gets it through a relatively easy round.

8/10