A Decent Film About Brotherhood

Rating: 7/10 (2 November 2018)

"The Fighter" is a fine film about the bond between brothers and the trials they undergo. While the ring may brings its challenges, life hits harder than opponents' gloves ever could.
-Analysis of Notable Work- *Writing/Directing: The struggles that Micky and Dicky face are difficult and honest. The film leaves no choice but to root for them. Director David O. Russell commands strong performances from his cast and brings to the screen a genuine story of brotherhood. *Editing/Cinematography: The world of Micky and Dicky is fast paced and chaotic. The editing accents this very well. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema brings a grounded quality to the film. There is a washed out and chaotic tone to the imagery, mirroring that of the lives of Micky and Dicky. *Dialogue/Acting: The dialogue is authentic and purposeful. Not much more can be said. The acting performances are very strong throughout. Christian Bale takes over the film completely, which pulls attention away from Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg does a decent job, but is overshadowed by Bale. Amy Adams gives a strong supporting performance. *Music/Sound: The music pulls the audience into the world, heightening emotions in many areas. The sound design is fairly average. It does not attract any unneeded attention. *Production Design/Special Effects: The world in which Micky and Dicky live feels very authentic. The film almost feels like a documentary at times. The costumes and sets are highly accurate to what Micky and Dicky experienced in real life. The special effects are good, they accomplish what they intend to, but are not overly impressive. Overall, the world feels real.
*Conclusion: "The Fighter" is a film that is easy to forget after a while, but the performances of Christian Bale and Amy Adams will stay in the back of people's minds.