The Fighter

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 10, 2010

8.1	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 500 Ratings

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User Reviews

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jdolan74Dec 22, 2010

If you stay for the credits and see the real Dicky and Micky, you realize you've just watched the truth. This movie is the truth. Pure and perfection. Hiring the guys who actually do the fights for HBO added to the authenticity. I justIf you stay for the credits and see the real Dicky and Micky, you realize you've just watched the truth. This movie is the truth. Pure and perfection. Hiring the guys who actually do the fights for HBO added to the authenticity. I just have to wonder who yelled the most... Bale or Russell. But who cares. They made a classic. Bravo.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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NancyBDec 21, 2010

Passionate, powerhouse performances. Amy Adams is amazing. Mark Whalberg is a knockout. Christian Bale is scary good and ridiculously convincing! See. This. Movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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SugarFloydTysonDec 21, 2010

Amazing movie with very believable actors and a classic portrayal of Micky Wards life. Christian Bale absolutely deserves the Best Supporting Actor award. I only wish they would have put at least the first Gatti fight in. BTW the kid who saidAmazing movie with very believable actors and a classic portrayal of Micky Wards life. Christian Bale absolutely deserves the Best Supporting Actor award. I only wish they would have put at least the first Gatti fight in. BTW the kid who said the KO of the Mexican was unbelievable and ill rehearsed is a moron, don't listen to him, it was IDENTICAL to the actual fight.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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brewcrewprideDec 21, 2010

Though it might not be the next "Rocky" or "Raging Bull", "The Fighter" is built by a very strong supporting cast that should make this a strong addition to the Boxing Genre in movies.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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TVJerryDec 20, 2010

The advertising leads you to believe this film is about Mark Wahlberg's character "Irish" Micky Ward, who once held the world welterweight boxing title. But this film is as much about his brother (astoundingly played by Christian Bale) andThe advertising leads you to believe this film is about Mark Wahlberg's character "Irish" Micky Ward, who once held the world welterweight boxing title. But this film is as much about his brother (astoundingly played by Christian Bale) and his mother (an incredible performance by Melissa Leo) and the twistsed/loving relationship they all had. Director David O. Russell has created a world that feels completely real, a bit freakish and almost stylized in its comic moments (especially the sisters). Every scene is layered, dynamic and a virtuoso spectacle of directing and acting.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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RyanGeeDec 19, 2010

With films such as Rocky or Raging Bull, it would seem as if that boxing-based movies would be a died out and worn out genre. While I will not say director David Russell's The Fighter brings a new aspect to the table, his film extensivelyWith films such as Rocky or Raging Bull, it would seem as if that boxing-based movies would be a died out and worn out genre. While I will not say director David Russell's The Fighter brings a new aspect to the table, his film extensively brings out the talent of its actors overshadowing the ensemble of other 2010 favorite Inception. The Fighter is a well-directed and captivating piece, and is as true as its performances.

The Fighter is a biographical film depicting the life of aspiring professional boxer Mickey Ward, played by the surprisingly multi-dimensional Wahlberg, and his half-brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). Ward is living under the shadow of Dicky, a former boxer who falls into the nightmare of crack addiction and violence. When Dicky faces a full decline, Ward, with the aid of love interest Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams), he learns he must rely on his own decisions to find success. Complimented by Wahlberg's acting, Adams puts on her finest performance since 2008's Doubt. Melissa Leo, who plays Mickey's overbearing mother, also gives a commendable act.

The film is not solely based on the sport and Ward's effort to "rise to the top." Instead, The Fighter also diverges into two trails illustrating the drug addiction of character Dicky Eklund, who is magnificently played by Christian Bale. Let me say this, Christian Bale gives an unforgettable tour de force performance. No matter what opinion you may have on Bale, from his viral outburst to his laughable performances in the Batman series, the actor is unbelievably good. Bale puts underlying passion and grit into his performance that will crawl under the skin causing either a sense of deep pathos or disturbance. The Fighter is a captivating film with an ample spectrum of emotion. While telling a "rags to riches" story, it also gives an illustrative view into the lower classes of White America. Although the movie's story is overall somewhat cliche and predictable, the depth put on the ensemble and direction makes it solid entertainment and subtle commentary. It at first is slow to buildup, but The Fighter, led by its magnificent trio, will grab and toss you in multiple directions.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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WayneGMedeirosDec 19, 2010

Wahlberg not Warlberg...sorry. My impressions remain the same with regard to my earlier review of this fantastic movie !!!! Additionally, I must also compliment the other actors who all played an integral role in without this total chemistryWahlberg not Warlberg...sorry. My impressions remain the same with regard to my earlier review of this fantastic movie !!!! Additionally, I must also compliment the other actors who all played an integral role in without this total chemistry it may have just been good rather than fantastic.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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CareojoDec 18, 2010

If I'm going to watch a film about a bunch of classless characters (with the exception of Wahlberg's) at least show it to me with some class...throw me an original music score, exercise style with the camera, instead of relying in only handIf I'm going to watch a film about a bunch of classless characters (with the exception of Wahlberg's) at least show it to me with some class...throw me an original music score, exercise style with the camera, instead of relying in only hand held close-ups. The fighting sequences were awful..they felt artificial and under-rehearsed (specially the one in which Ward knocks out the boxer from mexico). Walhberg played it soft, but maybe too soft....
Bale's performance was mostly shocking, and although for some moments it felt too chaotic and over the top, it should be the only reason for anyone to watch this film.
-5.5-… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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howard74Dec 18, 2010

This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. Great acting all way around. Good script and the action was superb. I heard several people watching saying they got goosebumps from several scenes. Hard to imagine a better movie this year.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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movi60centDec 18, 2010

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. You can't necessarily blame Wahlberg, as his modest performance is the one element that feels truly authentic and heartfelt. follow review in http://www.cinscreen.com/?id=1107… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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EliteF50Dec 17, 2010

The Fighter is one of the best movies I have ever seen! Everything from beginning to end is amazing. The acting is beyond perfect, especially Christian Bale. He's so talented, personally, I think he's up there with Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman,The Fighter is one of the best movies I have ever seen! Everything from beginning to end is amazing. The acting is beyond perfect, especially Christian Bale. He's so talented, personally, I think he's up there with Johnny Depp, Gary Oldman, Anthony Hopkins, etc. Mark Wahlberg was pretty great too, but is accent was inconsistent. It went from light to non-existent to heavy. Still, he gave a wonderful performance. If you guys are at the movies and don't know what to see, definitely check out The Fighter!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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MetalMan95Dec 17, 2010

I was suprised. I expected it to be good, but it was awesome. The Drama was realistic, the fighting was exhilerating, and the acting was superb. Go see it

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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KellyPDec 17, 2010

This is a masterful movie. Everything from the script, to the direction to the acting is superb. You wait all year for a movie this good. Don't miss it. Oscar nominations to come.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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MovieJayDec 17, 2010

Sports dramas can fall either into "rousing entertainments" or more the way of a "character study". "the Fighter" belongs to the first group, where it sits about as high in my esteem as "the Boxer" with Daniel Day-Lewis does on the "characterSports dramas can fall either into "rousing entertainments" or more the way of a "character study". "the Fighter" belongs to the first group, where it sits about as high in my esteem as "the Boxer" with Daniel Day-Lewis does on the "character study" side: it's fair and has redeeming qualities, but in it's group it sits behind "Rocky" and just a notch passed "Cinderella Man" as "the Boxer" sits behind "Raging Bull" and "the Wrestler" in it's group. Mark Wahlberg is not quite comfortable yet as a leading man, and the movie considers too much of the archetypal blue collar behavior that surrounds him and drowns out his performance. Not a bad movie. It passes the time. But after the hype fades over the next couple of weeks, people will come to their senses on this one, I think. As far as rousing entertainments go, "Secretariat" beats this one by a length.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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feardrinkerDec 15, 2010

Oscar-bait gets a near perfect score from critics and cretins alike. Who would have thought! Oh, the tears in my eyes. The performances, the script...magnifique!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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brokenglassesDec 11, 2010

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I thought it was going to be a tiresome cliche movie with manufactured scenes, but I was dead wrong. The movie as a whole has a lot of CHARM. The cast was outstanding from top to bottom and Bale nailed every scene with perfection! Naturally, people will compare this to Rocky base from the trailer alone and boxing element, but if you watch the Fighter entirely, you will see that its a totally different. Rocky and The Fighter deserve to be known as their own. Another thing to keep in mind is the Rocky was art imitating life (inspired from a true event), while The Fighter was life imitating art (a true story).

I deducted one point from this movie because I thought they could have rephrased the info in the aftermath of film. [SPOILER alert]. After the last scene, they should have written "After winning the title, Micky Ward began his epic career including his trilogy with Arturo Gatti.....Three of his boxing matches were voted Fight of the Year........Dicky Ecklund was by his corner at all times." [END Spoiler] .… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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JackScribeDec 10, 2010

The principal characters - Wahlberg's gounded soul, Bale's troubled druggie cloud, the mother's controling nature - are superb. Kind of a 2010 version of Rocky. However, the supporting cast of the seven trailer park trash sisters were justThe principal characters - Wahlberg's gounded soul, Bale's troubled druggie cloud, the mother's controling nature - are superb. Kind of a 2010 version of Rocky. However, the supporting cast of the seven trailer park trash sisters were just too stereotypical. Bale should receive a supporting actor nomination.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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