Two brothers duke it out

Movie: The Fighter
Director: David O. Russell
Cast: Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward and Christian Bale as his half brother Dickie/Dicky Eklund; with Amy Adams as Micky's girlfriend and Melissa Leo as the mother
Language: English
Release Date: December 2010

Should You See It? Yes--a slice of life quite different than yours I suspect.

Okay. You are not a boxing fan. So why should you see this movie? This film is the story of two brothers--Dicky Eklund and Micky Ward. They are incredibly intertwined. Both love boxing. Micky has idolized Dicky for years, always looking up to him. But Dicky takes a dark path, leading to addiction and imprisonment. It is a story about a family--not one you might have encountered, but a family nevertheless. You learn about the stresses and strains, how boxing is a way out of a life that seems to offer little else to achieve success or recognition.

In 1978, Dicky Eklund, hailing from Lowell, Massachusetts (a mill town) fought Sugar Ray Leonard. Eklund lost, but went the distance with Leonard. It is not clear if Dicky ever knocked down Leonard, although it is referenced numerous times in the film. One year later Leonard became the welterweight champion. Sadly, Eklund became a cocaine addict. HBO documented his out of control life and subsequent prison sentence. Eklund's younger half-brother, Micky Ward, also became a successful fighter between 1985 and 1991. Even after retiring Ward fought some very successful matches, finally retiring in 2003. This film is based on their lives.

In a Nutshell:

The movie begins with the crew of HBO following Dicky around documenting his possible comeback. Once hailed at the Pride of Lowell, Dicky is clearly on his way out. Into the action comes Micky, his younger brother. He also is a prize fighter. Managed by his domineering mother and looked over by his gaggle of sisters, Micky is stifled, edgy and at a loss to make something of himself. His failed marriage only reaffirms his own belief that he can't ever be anything. Although I have never been in Lowell, I got the sense that this film got it right. The overcrowded house, the pride of family, and impotent husband, and the barren surroundings set the stage.

Both brothers are clearly talented. Dicky succumbs to the temptations around him. Micky is rescued by his barmaid girlfriend who seems to be clear about the direction he should take. You see Micky in constant conflict--his brother, always his idol, in prison; his mother, trying to run his life at every step; and his sense of self doubt all contribute to his despair. Yet the film ends on a positive note.

The acting is superb. Wahlberg seems to capture the spirit of Micky, looking at times somewhat dejected by his lot in life and at other times exuberant when he finally comes into his own. Christian Bale captures the speech so well. And Melissa Leo is a wonderful character. I don't know who played the seven sisters, but each brings her own unique take on these women. I am reminded of the Pleiades, the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione. They were also nymphs and teachers to Bacchus (the god of wine). How fitting! Life is stranger than fiction.

The boxing scenes are especially well done. They might bring to mind boxing films from the past: Raging Bull (Scorses' masterpiece 1980 film starring Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci), Rocky (1976 starring Sylvester Stallone) , Cinderella Man (a 2005 comeback story about Jim Braddock) or Million Dollar Baby (2004 with Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, and Clint Eastwood). If you are old enough you might remember Requiem for a Heavyweight, a 1962 movie with Jackie Gleason, Mickey Rooney, and Anthony Quinn.