The Fighter

Some critics claim that the boxing-movie genre burnt out along with the 20th century, with Michael Mann’s Ali one of the few exceptions; but The Fighter reignites that flame with a surging fury that aligns it with the likes of Raging Bull and Rocky. Starring Mark Wahlberg and the Oscar winning Christian Bale, The Fighter tells the story of the 1990s welterweight boxer Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and his ex-fighter brother Dicky (Bale).

The film begins in 1993 in the run-down, post-industrial town of Lowell, Massachusetts, where the handsome, withdrawn, quietly spoken 27-year-old Micky's career has stalled after early success. His brother Dicky, once the great fighter who floored Sugar Ray Leonard, is now addicted to crack. With Dicky’s career shattered, Micky steps into the limelight to pull his family out of despair and regain the pride lost by Dicky’s demise. On release from prison, a rejuvenated Dicky finds solace in training his brother towards the historic title fight.

The struggle through adversity echoes with Rocky’s “against all odds” rise to success; but The Fighter is more than just a story about winning. It’s a story about the bond between two very different brothers who are united by their passion for boxing. It’s a story about rising out of the abyss of addiction. It’s a story of self-respect and pride.

Bale produces a spellbinding performance as a jittering, edgy crack-head who has lost everything he once dreamed of, whilst Wahlberg, who also co-produced the film, takes to the ring in his most convincing performance yet. One could be forgiven for believing that he was a boxer and not an actor. Whether you’re a fan of boxing or not, this is a film worth seeing, not just for the story, but the great performances that come with it.

Jordan Maciel