Movies: The Fighter

For decades, boxing has been a fertile ground for filmmakers, even as its real-life popularity has declined relative to other sports. "Rocky," "Raging Bull," "Million Dollar Baby" - people (and movie critics) just can't get enough of the sweet science. 2010's Oscar bait is "The Fighter," directed by David O. Russell:



It's a slightly fictionalized take on the true story of "Irish" Micky Ward, a boxer from working-class Lowell, Massachusetts. After a series of disappointing losses, Ward finds himself at a turning point in his career. Will he ever be a contender? Or will his crack addict older brother and overbearing mother/manager pull him down?

"The Fighter" doesn't bother to distance itself from the genre's tropes (heck, there's even a training montage), but what it lacks in originality, it (mostly) makes up for in execution. Christian Bale, who plays Ward's older brother, is a surefire Supporting Actor nominee once again, thanks to his ability to lose weight and adopt accents. I also liked Amy Adams, who was trying her darnedest to play against type by slinking around in her underwear and dropping f-bombs in every sentence.

The only actor not stretching himself here is Wahlberg, who, like always, brings his trademark scowl and Boston inflection to every scene. Sure, it fits this character, but it's also a little tiring after awhile:



Rating: 6/10