The Fighter Hooks You

The movie, "The Fighter" is not really a boxing movie but a film about a trio of personalities all vying to be heard above their emotional pain. The real life story turned into a movie by Mark Wahlberg is worth seeing because of the excellent performances by the stars.

There is the mother, Alice Ward played by Melissa Leo, who knows how to manipulate the family in one look. Then there is the older brother who almost became a champion boxer ( HBO's real footage with Sugar Ray Leonard) but threw it all away on drugs, Dicky Eklund, played by Christina Bale. Finally the younger half-brother, Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, who is torn between the two and almost lets his dream slip away because of his loyalty to both. Amy Adams, who has the best accent as Charlene, is the woman who pulls Wahlberg's Micky, into another direction and helps him get out from under his brother shadow.

Micky is on the cusp of being a champ but is letting his love for her brother and mother get in the way. Fate plays a role (just like that other true life tale, "The King's Speech") and the brother, Dicky is arrested and sent to jail. Time gives both a new outlook on life and Wahlberg's Micky finally stands up to mom and the brother (after being released from jail) to take his big step to becoming a champion.

Bale should win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as Dicky Eklund in "The Fighter." He should because his performance as the brother , long the "pride of Lowell" who is now crackhead, is riveting. When the movie is over, while the credits are rolling, you see the real brothers, Micky and Dicky and you instantly see, yes, Bale nails the brother in mannerisms.
Leo, as the mother, delivers the right mix of mother's love and guilt in a twisted way that leaves you cheering when the her husband tells her she is out as Micky's manager. The plate smashing scene is great but must have been much worst in real life.
One of my favorite scene's is the five sisters piling into the car and going over to Charlene's to tell her off and get Micky away from her. Thankfully, everyone comes to their sense and takes their egos out of the way so Micky can move forward. A great movie because of the strong acting.