Considering The Fighter

There are some great boxing movies: Rocky, The Hurricane, Raging Bull, and Cinderella Man. And then there are some lousy boxing movies, The Main Event comes to mind. So does everything after Rocky III. You’ll notice something about the best ones- they are based on true stories. As a result, they are not just about boxing. They deal with subjects like family dynamics, racism, profound set backs like the Depression.

The Fighter is based on the true story of Welterweight Champion Micky Ward, or rather the story of how he became champion. It deals with family dynamics, addiction, forgiveness and reconciliation. It is about second chances.

Christian and Mark as Dicky and Micky

Micky grew up the younger half-brother of “the Pride of Lowell”, his brother Dicky Ecklund (played marvelously by Christian Bale). Dicky made his claim to fame by knocking down boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard (or did Sugar Ray just slip?). After his brush with fame, Dicky went down hill. When we enter the story, he is Micky’s trainer and a crack addict. But he is still the apple of his mother’s (and Lowell, MA’s) eye. Micky (played by a subdued Mark Wahlberg) fights on, as an afterthought. His career started well, but with the family distracted by Dicky’s antics (his mother is Micky’s manager) his career has taken a decided downturn. Micky finds himself at a cross roads: will he be brought to nothing by his brother’s problems and the dysfunction represented by his mother and white trash half-sisters ( they add an authentic and hilarious element to the movie).

Their perpetually smoking mother and manager

It all comes apart when a misguided Dicky, seeking to help his younger brother, breaks numerous laws. He is apprehended by the police after assaulting some arresting officers. When Micky intercedes, he is assaulted by an angry officer. Life looks disastrous with Dicky in prison and Micky essentially out of boxing.

Dicky is full of self-deception. He keeps telling himself the HBO crew following him around is doing a documentary on his comeback. He actually believes this lie. He is watching the special in prison with his fellow inmates when reality dawns on him- it is about how he threw his life away to pursue his addiction.

At the same time Micky realizes he’s thrown his life away on his family. Instead of listening to his mother and sisters, he begins to listen to his father and his new girlfriend (Amy Adams). She has her own skeletons in her closet, and this is her chance to start over. Both brothers begin to put their lives together. But while Micky begins to resurrect his career, the family estrangement looms large. Dicky’s release from prison brings everything to a head.

Their love gave them both a new lease on life.

This is a very funny movie thanks to Dicky and the sisters. But it is also a very moving movie filled with redemption and perseverance.  It is a very human movie- filled with folly, bitterness and courage. No one here is perfect, they all have their faults.  That also means there is sin here. Set in working class Lowell, MA (about 20 minutes down the road from where I grew up), it is filled with “pervasive bad language”. If you are sensitive to foul language, don’t watch it. There is an allusion to sexual acts, and a scene in bed with Amy Adams in her underwear. So, those who struggle with lust be advised. Despite these distractions (which were mostly instrumental to the plot), The Fighter takes its place among the best boxing movies made.