The Fighter Review -- Formulaic Oscar Fodder

Because making an actual documentary about the real fighters, isn't as interesting as watching Mark Wahlberg jump rope ... Unenthusiastically.
Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg team up to contribute to what I hate in the Oscar-formula movie making genre. Yes, it is its own genre. As a closet boxing fan, the story of Mickey Ward and Richard Ecklund is one of tumultuous triumph that I was happy to see play out as a child. To see a film put a spotlight on such a specific story is what makes The Fighter recommendable … to boxing fans. As a film, there is this feeling of staleness. Wahlberg feels even more aloof than his character is supposed to be portraying. It feels weird saying that Amy Adams delivers a typical performance -- seeing as most of her roles draw the viewer into any given world. The genuine delivery of extraneous characters make The Fighter a good time capsule for the people of Lowell, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, the actual boxing sequences seem as real as Wahlberg’s chances of getting an Oscar nomination.

As a fan of director David O. Russell, its really surprising to come away from this film with such a sour taste. The music cues are trite, but completely match the formulaic feel good nature this movie is aiming to achieve. Though Christian Bale is in a supporting role as Dicky Ecklund, ex-pro boxer and full-time crackhead, this role he’s playing feels a bit familiar. Though there is much talent left in the mind and body of Ecklund, Bale conveys a certain erratic nature that keeps the movie interesting.

 
Correction, see The Fighter for Bale's incredible performance and the Ecklund sisters. They are dollfaces.
However, once the ‘eye of the tiger’ montages kick into full-steam, The Fighter goes from an honest retelling of a families struggle, to a soulless piece of fluff. Amy Adams, and to a lesser extent Melissa Leo, feel like they are playing caricatures. This feels more like a fault of the writing. The supporting cast of The Fighter feels like something akin to the TV show the Wire. If these actors aren’t from Boston, boy did the casting director do a great job of making me believe that they where.

As an aside, because of the weak outline of the story and general corniness of the movie’s tone, The Fighter could actually be seen as a comedy. Make sure you don’t do what I did though, and see a matinee with a bunch of 60-somethings and laugh at the raucous moments of casual crack smoking. Turns out, this movie is supposed to be taken seriously. Who knew?

 
See the steamy relationship between Adams and Wahlberg heat to a temperature that could hardly fog a contact lens.
As per the norm with movies so obviously vying for the attention of the Hollywood Foreign Press, The Fighter has few moments of actual fighting. I’m guessing this was some sort of artistic irony. This movie makes Bale’s performance the centerpiece. Where Wahlberg’s stale delivery works as a light-chaser to the development of Dicky Ecklund’s downward spiral from fame and family. Its when we get to the fight scenes where I wished Russell would have just plugged in actual footage of Mickey Ward. What we got were quick cuts of bouts that looked more like patty-cake than an actual boxing match. The camera work and costume design were amazing up until these moments. The actual Mikey Ward could take quite a beating. He could brawl with the best and you never really get that impression, what with all the soft-swung punches and sloppiness of fight choreography.

Bale as Ecklund are what make The Fighter enjoyable to watch. It would appear out of all of the major cast members, the writing allowed him to get deep into this odd role [but still very familiar]. He displays the nervous ticks and weight problems most crack addicts have. There are good moments in The Fighter, but its only due to the cast and not the regurgitated writing we’ve come to expect out of an Oscar-aimed project. It really is one of those movies where you could judge it by its cover and probably not be that far off.

I give The Fighter …

Nothing says "time wasted" like a sock full of your own stink.

The “Living Poopsock” Award

Comments

[MAHARAPKIR]

I Think its gonna be a neck to neck between Rush and Bale for the Best Supporting Actor although Bale deserves it more for stealing the entire movie with his performance..Rush's performance was overshadowed by that of Colin Firth.,Still Rush stands more chances of getting it...