Fighter

A family drama (in the sense of a “drama about a family” rather than a “drama for the whole family”) that is pulled out of mediocrity only by the excellent Christian Bale (in a role similar to the one he played in Harsh Times). Fighter is a psychologically believable and, in terms of acting, focused film that doesn’t bring anything new to the genre of intimate relationship movies and doesn’t offer any moments of a more dramatic nature. Mark Wahlberg’s role suits him due to his real-life background, but the film rather needed a real actor in the mold of Bale for that role. (28.11.2011)

This is not so much a film about boxing and the hardships this sport brings (that's why comparisons with Rocky, Raging Bull, etc. are unwarranted), but mainly a social drama about a crazy family, a domineering mother-manager and two brothers who are completely different in character, all with riveting performances by almost everyone involved. While Wahlberg, with his unchanging poker player expression, hits his acting limits here, the anorexic Bale clearly reigns supreme and whenever he's on screen you can't take your eyes off him. There is such a believable and intimate atmosphere permeating the whole film, that you have no problem empathising with the action and watching it all in one breath. The only thing separating this film from a maximum rating is the fact that the plot meanders through predictable twists and turns, but otherwise it’s undoubtedly one of the films of the year and the Oscar nominations are well deserved. (27.02.2011)

The beginning didn’t really grab me. It felt like the movie was trying too hard and Christian Bale seemed to be overacting. But as it went on, I started to get into it more, and realized there was something special here. One thing that baffles me, though—how does Mark Wahlberg not get an Oscar nomination for his performance? The guy prepped for this role for five years, and it shows. He was fantastic, no doubt about it. It almost feels like this movie is cursed somehow, and I’m worried it won’t get the recognition it deserves. Especially since the director hadn’t made anything in ages. Why is that? Still, he did a great job. Aronofsky would’ve done it differently, sure, but this story wouldn’t have fit his style. As for the boxing scenes, they were solid. If you’ve watched real boxing on TV, they’re pretty much on par with that, so no complaints from me. Overall, I don’t think you can fault this film for much. You might get frustrated with Bale at first, but eventually, it all clicks into place. Life’s journeys are strange like that, and this film takes you on one worth sharing with the world. For me, it’s a classic I wouldn’t mind revisiting again and again. (06.02.2011)

The strongest response that The Fighter managed to get out of me was curiosity at whether Bale will get the Oscar for his secondary role as the skinny, drug-addicted brother/coach. I hope he does, because, although the film as a whole felt like classic award bait, Bale’s performance is the only thing that stands out among all the cynicism and it impressed me (something the cynicism from recent years, like Invictus or Milk, didn’t manage). Otherwise, it’s an ordinary story about how an unremarkable “loser” goes all the way to the top, though I didn’t get the feeling that Micky Ward made any extraordinary effort for that. The Fighter is not a bad film, but my sympathies lie elsewhere. 6/10 (11.01.2011)

We’re not television, we’re HBO – and we will change your life. The subtle blending of the techniques used in documentary and fictional films (the subjective narrator is replaced by an attempt at documentary-style objectivity), as well as a number of suggestions for a dissertation on remediation (film shots that very convincingly look like television shots) will mainly please students of the film sciences, but The Fighter will not disappoint as an “ordinary” drama that elicits an emotional reaction either. Through the characters, David O. Russell succeeds in superbly depicting the impoverished white-trash environment that the protagonists come from and elucidates their desire to achieve something more significant. You don’t have to be an expert in American boxing in order to anticipate the development of the plot based on the most common rags-to-riches stories, but The Fighter still sets itself apart. Despite established practice, it doesn’t glorify the family, who, it must be added, are rather crazy; on the contrary, in order to break through, Mickey has to cut himself off from his closest loved ones. Relationships and their credibility are much more important than the matches, which happen alongside the main events in the plot. Boxing takes up only a few minutes; many of the matches are reduced to a “best of” compilation, in which it is easy to see Russell’s fondness for shortcuts. The scenes are connected with sound transitions and titles, which hold the viewer’s attention, save time and create an impression of a smooth narrative flow. Of no less importance, The Fighter offers convincing acting performances, especially by the emaciated Christian Bale, who is similarly committed to his work as a young Daniel Day-Lewis (whom he even resembles here). Given the below-average expectations, The Fighter is a tremendous surprise. 85% (25.02.2011)