The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter is a film based on the real life story of Mickey Ward, a boxer, and his family.  I did not research the true story very well, but I certainly hope that it was closer than the true story behind Unstoppable.

For the record - the true story behind Unstoppable is a train went through a wooded area at about 45 mph, and was stopped by the company with no injuries or damage.  Quite different from the movie which featured a "missile... the size of the Chrysler building!"

For The Fighter, I have to give props to Christian Bale.  He delivered a magnificent performance, and changed my opinion of him as an actor.  I hadn't seen him in much except for Batman and Terminator:Salvation, and basically wrote him off as average, especially after Terminator. But he proves me wrong here.  And now that this role is over, I recommend that he eat a few cheeseburgers.

The story follows Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) as he is managed by his mother and brother Dickie (Bale), the latter of which is addicted to crack.  Mickey is put up in a fight, and his opponent backs out.  On advice from his mother and brother (so that they can get paid), Mickey ends up fighting a boxer much heavier than him, and loses pretty quickly.  He receives an offer to be paid to train year round in Las Vegas, but his family convinces him not to go.  Pushed by his girlfriend, Amy Adams, Mickey decides to go to Las Vegas, but his brother throws a last ditch effort and decides to pay Mickey himself to have him stay.

Unfortunately, Dickie's plan is to have his girlfriend pretend to be a prostitute, so that he can pretend to be a cop and rob the men she picks up.  During one of their robberies, the cops show up, and then the theater's fire alarm goes off and the movie ends.  At least in the version we saw.

Fast forward to a week later (redbox this time), and we learn that Dickie is arrested, and finally comes clean from his crack addiction.  Mickey gets back into boxing, and works to rebuild his family.  I won't ruin the movie for you there.

Overall, I give The Figher a 9.  Great performances by all the actors and actresses, including two Oscar wins - One for Bale, and one for Melissa Leo, the mother of Dickie and Mickey.  I think it's an excellent film, and recommend it highly.