The Fighter (2010)

David O. Russell – Director

Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson - Screenplay

Mark Walberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams

In a world of 3D, high def, blue ray, flat screen, wide screen, and just all around badassery of cinema viewing, there is one medium that simply trumps them all. Take a 4 by 6 inch screen, place it approximately 1.5 feet immediately in front of your face, and cover it with thin lines running vertically and horizontally through it. Make sure to never move your head more than an inch or 2 to either side, less you lose the ability to see the movie and, if the screen suddenly and inexplicably comes jolting towards your face, often upending the drink placed precariously on a conveniently located drink stand directly below it, simply rearrange as necessary. Be prepared for a variety of film interruptions most often giving you information that you neither required nor understood. Did I mention the sodium laden mid movie snack often provided, absolutely free of charge? Ah yes, the joys of enjoying cinema from a moving aircraft.  

Despite these initial and various setbacks, the 9 hour flight finally prompted me to delve into the wide world of British Airways cinema selection. Knowing that I was already starting out behind the 8 Ball, I selected a movie that even an in-flight viewing could not destroy. I was not disappointed.

To anyone who has not been living under a rock for the past year, The Fighter is the utter definition of what an excellent film should be – seamless screenplay, relatable and effortlessly believable casting, and perhaps above all, a hell of a David and Goliath story. Set in the mean streets of Boston, Micky (Walberg) plays the up and coming boxer trying to make it out of his older brother Dicky’s (Bale) massive and looming former champion shadow. Despite his teeny little problem staying off the crack, charismatic Dicky remains the apple of his mother’s (Leo) eye, living in a perpetual fantasy where he is having his big comeback and his younger brother is just along for the ride. Though Micky seems content to let Dicky command the spotlight, being constantly overlooked in favor of his clearly past-his-prime brother finally catches up with him.

Let’s be honest, the Academy can’t always be trusted in their rulings of “Best of the Year” but in this case, they got it more right than wrong. Who wasn’t nominated in this movie? Bale blew it out of the water, throwing himself into the role of crackhead former champ Dicky (seriously, would anyone suspect he was an upstanding Brit?), and proves he has what it takes to become one of the true greats. Leo and Adams both shine as opposing forces on Walberg’s Micky, daring the audience to even suggest that they were born and raised just a stone’s throw from Lynn.  

Utterly relatable, the defeat of Shea Neary by “Irish” Micky Ward for the WBU Welterweight title, wound up being cake after the triumph over the family that didn’t support him. While not everyone has been within spitting distance from a professional boxing title, everyone has had sibling rivalry, a girlfriend or boyfriend at odds with the parents or even just the ol’ Black Sheep of the Family. Definitely a true story to check out that will leave you inspired and also maybe feel better about your own family’s dysfunction.