The Fighter

Taking into account David O Russell’s combative nature it’s with delicious irony that his latest film is called The Fighter. Then take into account the two main stars are Mark Whalberg and Christian Bale, seriously spiky off screen individuals themselves, you wouldn’t have been surprised to hear stories of “creative difficulties” on set (Whalberg was apparently unsure of Russell directing this having endured the mayhem of the Three Kings shoot with him) and persons leaving the production. However, it appears professionalism has reigned supreme as the film, despite a long gestation period before Russell’s involvement, is highly enjoyable with great acting from all. It’s interesting to note that Darren Aronofsky was set to direct this before dropping out (and eventually ending up behind the camera for Black Swan). I’m not too sure of the exact reasons why Aronofsky left, but surely a sense of déjà vu must have come over him as The Fighter is very similar to Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, both in style and tone. Both films concern comebacks and in each film the actual story is almost secondary to the characters and their portrayals by the cast. This film is based on the true story of Micky Ward (Whalberg) and his rise to world welterweight boxing champion, aided (and hamstrung) by his brother Dicky Eklund, a former boxer but now a crack cocaine addict. Out of the two leads, its, unsurprisingly, Bale that blows Whalberg off the screen, but Whalberg is half decent himself and this is the first film for ages I feel he’s really got into the character. Despite the two leads, this is pretty much a four-hander as good support comes from Amy Adams as Micky’s girlfriend Charlene and Melissa Leo as Alice, the Micky and Dicky's mother. The relationship between all four characters forms the matrix of the movie. Adams isn’t entirely convincing at first as a tough bartender but grows into the role, especially in one of the film’s best scenes where she meets Alice for the first time along with Micky’s seven bitchy sisters. Leo herself almost tops Bale on the acting front, playing Alice to perfection as a mother who would never hear a bad word against her family (particularly Eklund) but turns a blind eye when it comes to their, and her, imperfections. Finally we have Bale. Whatever you may think of his intensity and tendency to stay in character off screen, it clearly works for him as this is another great turn from Bale and it’s hard to think of any of his current contemporaries who could beat him in an audition for anything. Returning to Russell, his low key direction compliments the storyline as he concentrates on the relationship between the protagonists, though this may be to the consternation of the pugilists out there, as the fight scenes are rushed through and frankly, quite unrealistic. So, a boxing film with little boxing, but this still packs a punch thanks to the great acting from the cast and Russell’s insightful direction.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Helped by some subtle direction from Russell, Bale and Leo are the high points of a family drama disguised as a boxing story, with even the occasional laugh thrown in. Rating: 8/10.