THE FIGHTER
US, 2010, 114 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O’ Keefe, Jack Mc Gee.
Directed by David O. Russell.
There is a long tradition of American films about boxing, as a sport, as an industry and the repercussions for individuals and family. Champion, The Set Up, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Raging Bull, Cinderella Man. Quite a collection of films. The Fighter is up there with them.
Many audiences are not boxing fans and may wince at some of the fight scenes in this film. But, there is a lot more to the film than the gruelling poundings.
Non- American audiences may be surprised that this story is based on actual characters and their quite recent past. In fact, the two brothers at the centre of the film are seen in actual footage during the final credits. The trainer, Michael O’ Keefe, seems to be played by a sympathetically talented actor, but it is O’ Keefe playing himself. The setting is Lowell, Massachussets, and much of the film was made there, including the use of the actual gym of the story. Given that the film is grounded in fact, this is surprising, given the often unflattering portraits of the main characters.
The Fighter is the story of two brothers, Dick and Mickey Ward. The Fighter applies to both of them but the centre of the film is Mickey, the younger brother. The film opens with Dick speaking direct to camera as documentary makers are filming him for a documentary about his comeback. Comeback does not seem likely as Dick is a wild and bug-eyed interviewee, fidgety and jumpy and hyping what he says – he spends a lot of time in a crack house. The scene includes home movie footage of the two brothers. While Dick had his moment in the 1970s, it is now the 1990s and he is training Mickey who has ambitions but fears he is a loser. This sets the tone for a story of powerful family bonds (and domination, especially by their tough as nails mother, Alice) played out in fights at home and in the ring.
One of the reasons the opening is so attention-grabbing is that Christian Bale is playing Dick. Sometimes Bale seems stolid (even as Bruce Wayne), especially as Melvin Purvis in Public Enemies, and in Terminator: Salvation. He was at his serious best in 3:10 to Yuma. But, here... he is hyperkinetic, a performance that deserves many awards. Which means that Mark Wahlberg, as Mickey, has to play the straight role to his brother’s histrionics. This Wahlberg is always able to do and makes his dramatic mark in a less showy manner. Melissa Leo (so strong in Frozen River) brings the matriarch, Alice, to frighteningly domineering life. She has an entourage of six daughters who seem something like a Greek chorus in attendance, with moments like the Furies.
This means that, although the boxing is the setting for the drama, and we see inside the gyms, the bouts, the championships, the deals and the pressures, The Fighter is a film about family. (It was released at the same time in America as Animal Kingdom and both Jackie Weaver and Melissa Leo divided the Best Supporting Actress awards from a variety of critics associations – an out-there matriarch compared with a smilingly-sinister in-there matriarch, both wreaking emotional havoc on their sons.) And Amy Adams (who can do sweet as well as pouty – Doubt, Julie and Julia, Leap Year) is able to adapt to the tough environment as Mickey’s girlfriend – who knows how to stand up to Alice.
David O. Russell has not made so many films and they range from Three Kings to I Heart Huckabees. This is one he can be proud of.
1. The acclaim for the film? As a boxing film, as a sports film, as a family film? A piece of Americana?
2. The boxing film traditions? The hard life of the boxers? Struggles? The Rocky tradition and triumph?
3. The film based on a true story and actual characters? The world of the family, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the boxing world, the drug world, the world of competitive fights? The final credits and the picture of Dick and Micky, the real characters?
4. The use of Lowell, Massachusetts for location filming, the visuals, the industrial revolution, the homes, the apartment blocks, the streets, the gymnasiums (and the actual gymnasium in Lowell being used)? The bouts, the prison sequences and the detail? Las Vegas, the United Kingdom? Authentic atmosphere? The range of songs – and Alice and Dick singing in the car?
5. The device of the making of the film for Home Box Office? For Dick’s comeback? Its exploration of the fight world? Its exploration of the crack houses and the consequences, the characters? The focus on the filming? Dick and the opening talking to screen, the different film produced, about crack rather than boxing, the ending and Dick, rehabilitated, talking to the screen? The showing of the crack film, Dick and his watching it in prison with the others, Mick and his reaction and phoning his ex-wife not to show it to his daughter, Alice and her sending Dick’s son back to bed and not to watch the film?
6. The introduction, Christian Bale as Dicky, his face, his large eyes, the effect of the drugs? Talking to camera, performing to camera? The eccentric personality and his exuberance? His bonds with his family, the 1978 bout with Sugar Ray Leonard and the video? His reputation? his being with Micky, the various home video sequences and the bonds between the two brothers? Dick training Micky? The extended family, all the daughters? Love and support? Yet his going to the crack house? The characters there, the drugs? His missing his nine o’clock appointment and running, his unreliability, not ready to go to the airport, leaping out the window, not wanting his mother to see him? The difficulties of his personality, the reaction of the other trainers? The fight, the substitute, Micky and his being bashed? His reactions? On the personal level and his relationship with his son? The drugs and his running, outside the restaurant, his masquerading as a policeman, the bashing, his arrest, in court and his bravado? Going to prison, tough, the acclaim for the documentary, his shock in seeing it, turning it off, turning on the guards and the men, the riot? His training in prison, running, new teeth, his getting healthy again? Micky’s visit, the discussion about the strategy for the fight in Las Vegas? His getting out, going to the gym, the preparation of the party, the cake, his taking the cake to the crack house, the confrontation with Micky in the change room, Micky rejecting him, Charlene’s anger? His going to Charlene’s house, her abuse of him? His persuasion, the deal? Training with Micky, settling down, the travel to the United Kingdom, support at the ringside, his advice, Micky’s win? The final praise for Micky, a win for himself, for Micky and all the family? The real Dick in the final credits? A strong portrait of a flawed man?
7. The contrast with Micky, Mark Wahlberg’s performance? The ordinary man, younger, idolising his older brother, in the video clips? His relationship with his mother, her neglect of him and love for Dick? The bond with his father? The training, the series of losses, seeing himself as a loser? The hopes for further fights, Mickey O’ Keefe and the training? Going to the bar, seeing Charlene, shy, talking with her, his brawling with the man who insulted her? His mother, the range of sisters and their always being present? His taking orders in the family? Dick and hurrying to the airport, trying to get him from the crack house? The fight, his being persuaded to fight the bigger and heavier man, the brutal loss? His facial disfigurements, not ringing Charlene, her accosting him about the date? Taking her to the film, his sleeping during La Belle Epoque? His not wanting to be seen in Lowell? The three weeks with Charlene, a different life? The approach from different entrepreneurs, the possible deals? His being in the restaurant, going to help Dick, the police bashing his hands? The arrest? His being released from prison? His father and the cab owner, their proposal? The deal not to have Dick involved? The successful fights, the collage of his victories? The Las Vegas fight, his visiting Dick, the plan, his being pummelled, not following O’ Keefe, following Dick’s suggestion, the knockout and his win? The crisis for his future, the confrontation with Dick after his release, severing the bonds in the change room? His mother and her shock? His father and O’ Keefe, their support? Dick and his change of heart? Going to Charlene, the reconciliation? Resolving the family difficulties? In the interview with Dick? Going to the UK, his victory and the same tactics? The portrait of a boxer who came up through the ranks and was successful?
8. Alice, a very strong woman, her bonds with her children, the number of children, the men in her life, the girls as her entourage, almost a Greek chorus? Her devotion to Dick and spoiling him? Her love for Micky, less strong? Managing him, the demands on him, collaborating with George in his training, dominating George? The fights? Dick late, her going to the crack house, chasing him? Micky and the harsh bout, her conniving in the plan, the money? Her motivation, sense of family? Her appearance, clothes, hairstyle, makeup? Coming on strongly dealing with people, her antagonism towards Charlene, the visit to Charlene’s house with her daughters, blaming Charlene? Blaming Micky? The possibility of other deals? Going to court, supporting Dick? The TV program, watching it, Dick’s ringing and not wanting his son to see the program? Dick coming out of jail, the party preparations, the cake, Charlene and the straight talking, her having to accept the deals, Mickey O’ Keefe? The championship fights, her support? The victory in England? The portrait of a dominating matriarch?
9. The contrast with George, his ordinariness, supporting his son, his background, his relationship with Alice? His working with Mickey O’ Keefe? The fights, Micky losing, his being battered? The prospect of other deals, the cab company owner? The fights, the training, Micky going against the trainer, his successes? The bond at the end?
10. Mickey O’ Keefe, acting as himself, the re-enacting of his scenes of training, with Dick and the antagonism, with Micky, the exasperation? The police and the gym? The alternate deals, away from the family, his strategies for the fights, Micky not using his but Dick’s and winning, the acceptance of the final deal?
11. The entrepreneurs, the promotion of the fights, the money deals, their picking their fighters, grooming them? The cab company owner, his plans? The championship fights?
12. The opponents, the big man and his bashing Micky? The meetings, the champion in England, the press release, the opponent and his boasting? Dick and his meeting Sugar Ray Leonard, the press? The final opponents, Micky and his surprise winning, the KOs?
13. The crack house, the friends, the bonds with Dick, his going to the house, losing track of time, the effect of the drugs, his appearance, his systems? His brawling, impersonating the policeman, in court? His going to jail, going back to the crack house, giving them the cake and leaving them? Their shocked reaction?
14. The prison, the attitude of Dick in prison, the television, his turning off the program, the riot?
15. The character of Charlene, her background, dropping out of college, working in the bar, her relationships, tough stances, flirting with Micky, the preparation for the date, his not ringing her because of his face, her confronting him, going to the Spanish film, the complaint about the subtitles? Her living with Micky, his mother’s visit and the confrontation? Charlene and her tough responses? Her staying with Micky, the deals, her advice, accompanying him for the fights? Her fears for him? The victories, her anger at the gym? Dick coming to her house, her backing down, the deal, with Micky at the end?
16. The world of boxing, tough, training, the fights and their brutality, the money, the deals, injuries?
17. A film of family, a strong family, the bonds, strengths, flaws, domination?
