The Fighter (2010)

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!! The Fighter is a 2010 boxing movie based on the true story of Micky Ward and his early years of boxing with his troublemaking brother who helps train him so he can go pro in the mid-1980s. This movie stars Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward and includes an absolutely brilliant performance from Christian Bale as Micky’s brother and trainer Dicky Eklund. Directed by David O’ Russell who certainly has talent, this flick may surprise viewers who expected a cheesy, rocky-style sport story with heart-warming sequences. This movie took a look at family conflict and the unbelievably stupid lives of junkies. The excellent acting and relatable dialogue blended into a brutal, realistic take on family troubles that has you rooting slightly for both sides and completely changes your feelings in the moment. Obviously, I may have pointed out that one of the best features of the movie is the performances but when that is mixed with the actual character of Christian Bale, you know you’re in for a treat. Dicky Eklund is a junkie who constantly gets in trouble for acts of crime but the audience still seems to build such respect for him and his loyalty towards his family. The realistic style of filming, acting, and developing characters begins hinting to other David O’ Russell films which clearly shows he has great talent in directing movies with difficult characters.