As far as the Academy Awards go

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2011)

I wouldn't be all too surprised to see The Fighter emerge as the ultimate dark horse closer to the ceremony, en route to winning Best Picture. I don't dispute that some almost unbeatable competition stands in its way. Critic-friendly films The King's Speech and The Social Network are the undisputed frontrunners, while I feel Black Swan may be too intense, and perhaps too ambiguous, to be a force. Meanwhile, other quality films such as Inception and Toy Story 3 are made almost redundant since they haven't been recognised in the directing department. But The Fighter has the sort of emotional and thematic drive that can give a film both mass appeal, and respect from those who matter come awards season.
David O. Russell directs two actors in the prime of their carers in Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale. They play aspiring boxing champion Micky Ward, in the earlier stages of his career, and his crack-addicted half-brother Dicky Eklund, respectively. Micky is a promising prospect, but one that gets repeatedly screwed by last-minute card changes, suffering repetitive losses and beatdowns all in the name of earning a living. That is until he is offered a chance to train with a new crew, where he faces the decision of cutting his ties with anyone weighing him down, including his own family.
In short, that is what makes The Fighter so engaging. Yes, it contains all the elements of a typical boxing film: hard work is the only way to achieve your goal, reaching the pinnacle despite adversity, and all that. But the family dynamics constantly on display, arguing that professional boxing is every bit as mental and interpersonal as it is physical, give this film the emotional drive I mentioned above, which really drives it home in the Third Act.
The cast does an amazing job as a unit in this film. Despite having the lead role, Wahlberg does occasionally get overshadowed by his co-stars, but that's no reflection on his performance. He is impressive; others just happen to be even better. Bale is almost a shoe-in for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. If that sounds a little premature, wait for the footage of the real Dicky Eklund during the end credits. Bale's ability to perfectly mimic his accent, mannerisms and general demeanour is nothing short of freakish.
Melissa Leo is every bit as good as the brothers' domineering, omnipresent mother. She is at her best when using her passive-aggressive side to get her way against her husband and sons. Some may argue that, occasionally, she is portrayed as excessively unpleasant or vindictive to the extent that she has no compassion for the wellbeing of her family. This does detract from some scenes, especially since, at least in my opinion, she ultimately has the interests of her sons at heart. And Amy Adams, although not having quite the same impact as her fellow supporting actors, also does enough to earn a nomination in her own right as Micky's girlfriend.
Finally, The Fighter possesses an excellent soundtrack, filled to the brim with foot-tapping rock and roll from artists including Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and The Heavy. Honourable mentions go to the use of Whitesnake's Here I Go Again as Micky walks to the ring in what is an indulgent piece of camera-work, as well as The Rolling Stones' Can't You Hear Me Knocking for an inspired training montage. So give The Fighter a shot. You may find yourself not only entertained, but also feeling the urge to buy a pair of boxing gloves, get in shape and get your own MTV girlwhatever that is.
*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review.*