The Fighter follows true life amateur boxer Mickey Ward (an understated but relatively strong Mark Wahlberg) as he attempts to come back from a string of losses and finally make a career of boxing. A strong sense of authenticity is added by the presence of many of the actual people and their family members who lived out the story in the early nineties, including Mickey's trainer playing himself. Christian Bale again see-saws his weight to play Mickey's crack addicted brother-from-another-father Dicky Eklund. He isn't "Machinist" thin in this one, but a very long way from his Batman bulk. No, much more impressive than his weight loss is his complete personal transformation into the character. I don't think Bale has ever disappeared this completely in a role before, and multiple times during the film I'd forget I was even watching an actor. Melissa Leo is no less arresting as the boys' mother, alternately enraging and subtly earning sympathy from the audience.
The movie itself is actually quite hilarious. Despite my initial worries, the extremely comical tone thankfully gives way to emotional resonance in the middle third. Through his brother, mother, and sisters, Mickey explores themes of failed dreams, letting go, and the importance of family so by the time the final bout hits the screen you're as invested in his triumph as they are.
After Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees a true life based boxing drama would have been the last thing I'd guess for Russell to direct, but that sense of unpredictability serves to complement him well here with the otherwise meat-and-potatoes underdog sports story.
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