The Fighter

[Gainzo]

I saw the movie on Saturday night and can’t say enough about it. I’m sure everyone has seen a preview or two the last month or so on TV. Terrific performances from Christian Bale and Melissa Leo.

If Christian Bale isn’t nominated for an Academy Award I will be shocked. He was unbelievable in his portrayal of Dicky Eklund; Micky Ward’s half-brother and crack addict.

Disclaimer: I went to College and worked in Lowell from 1990-2000 so I knew about Micky Ward and his screwed up family. I can also say that the way people in Lowell are portrayed in the movie is spot on for that time period.

[Bob]

If Christian Bale gave a good performance in that movie, it would be his first.

[dbatesman]

I'm just glad they finally got around to making a movie about tough, blue-collar Massachusettsians.

[SenorGato]

I'm just glad they finally got around to making a movie about tough, blue-collar Massachusettsians.

Where would Mark Wahlberg's career be?

[drago]

If Christian Bale gave a good performance in that movie, it would be his first.

i liked him in the machinest, thought he was amazing.

[RutgersJetFan]

I'm just glad they finally got around to making a movie about tough, blue-collar Massachusettsians.

Kinda sad, because Ward's story actually defies logic by all means in boxing. The timing of this one seemed way off though. Boston film after Bostom film, Gatti only passed like 2 years ago and the rubber match was like 7 years back. It really does seem like a flick that's typical of Hollywood.

[CTM]

amy adams

[Vicious89x]

amy adams

This. I love her.

[Integrity28]

i liked him in the machinest, thought he was amazing.

Agree.

They had a complete emergency medical staff on set with him for that movie, they thought he'd keel over any second.

[JiFtheOracle]

Marky Mark is the worst actor of all time.

As much as I'd like to see this movie, I'll pass until I'm lying on my couch with nothing to do during the offseason.

He's garbage.

[dbatesman]

Kinda sad, because Ward's story actually defies logic by all means in boxing. The timing of this one seemed way off though. Boston film after Bostom film, Gatti only passed like 2 years ago and the rubber match was like 7 years back. It really does seem like a flick that's typical of Hollywood.

Didn't they leave all the Gatti stuff out of this movie too?

[RutgersJetFan]

Didn't they leave all the Gatti stuff out of this movie too?

I think so. Pretty sure it's his life leading up to that, which is still a good story. Dude was such an average light welterweight whose career should have been done in by all the losses, but he developed this monstrous left hook to the liver which he wound up winning a string of fights with; against boxers superior to him in every way who thought they'd be using him as a stepping stone. My guess is the movie ends with either the Vince Phillips fight or the Shea Neary match, (the latter being one of the toughest performances I've ever seen, Neary was no joke and Ward absolutely wrecked him in the like the 8th or 9th and ended his career).

I don't think it would be right to portray Gatti in a flick yet anyways, it's still way too soon and I don't think any movie could legitimately replicate the fights that he had anyways.

[SenorGato]

This. I love her.

Better not let the wife hear that, aye? Heh heh heh. Oooheeehoo.

If Christian Bale gave a good performance in that movie, it would be his first.

[T0mShane]

If Christian Bale gave a good performance in that movie, it would be his first.

I thought he was great in American Psycho, but he's so one-note that it's hard to watch him in anything because you get stuck trying to figure out what all the hype is about. He was just interviewed in Esquire, too. Sounds like a complete jackass off-screen. Pretentious as a motherf*cker.

[RutgersJetFan]

One of the greatest rounds in boxing history. Keep an eye on the body shot that knocks Gatti down at the beginning, 9,999 fighters out of 10,000 do not come back from a punch like that. You can see he has nothing left in his legs when he stands up too. Steward's commentary totally makes this fight, I've never heard a colorman show that much excitement over a fight. "And here comes Gatti back!"

[RutgersJetFan]

One more: Mickey Ward vs Emanuel Burton. Fight of the Year in '01. On a sidenote this fight really showed the divide between the Mickey Wards of the world and Mayweather, because Floyd absolutely humiliated Burton like 7 or 8 months prior to this (on the old Saturday afternoon KO Nation programs that HBO used to do). To the point where Burton's cornerman climbed through the ropes and waived the towel in the ref's face.

[CTM]

One of the greatest rounds in boxing history. Keep an eye on the body shot that knocks Gatti down at the beginning, 9,999 fighters out of 10,000 do not come back from a punch like that. You can see he has nothing left in his legs when he stands up too. Steward's commentary totally makes this fight, I've never heard a colorman show that much excitement over a fight. "And here comes Gatti back!"

I remember this like it was yesterday... mostly cause i never watched anything but heavy weights back then and happenned to be home and bored and watched this whole fight with 2 fighters I'd never really heard of. Great fight

[Vicious89x]

I think so. Pretty sure it's his life leading up to that, which is still a good story. Dude was such an average light welterweight whose career should have been done in by all the losses, but he developed this monstrous left hook to the liver which he wound up winning a string of fights with; against boxers superior to him in every way who thought they'd be using him as a stepping stone. My guess is the movie ends with either the Vince Phillips fight or the Shea Neary match, (the latter being one of the toughest performances I've ever seen, Neary was no joke and Ward absolutely wrecked him in the like the 8th or 9th and ended his career).

I don't think it would be right to portray Gatti in a flick yet anyways, it's still way too soon and I don't think any movie could legitimately replicate the fights that he had anyways.

I dislike many things from Boston but the Dropkick Murphys is not one of them.

[RutgersJetFan]

I remember this like it was yesterday... mostly cause i never watched anything but heavy weights back then and happenned to be home and bored and watched this whole fight with 2 fighters I'd never really heard of. Great fight

Most were hoping a fight like this going in to the night at the time. Both were already legends in the sport, not so much for being the most talented, just for the excitement they brought to the ring. Gatti's the most popular Atlantic City fighter in history by a mile.

[RutgersJetFan]

I dislike many things from Boston but the Dropkick Murphys is not one of them.

Hagler and Marciano too. The list ends there for me, though I've never minded the Celts as much.

[Vicious89x]

Hagler and Marciano too. The list ends there for me, though I've never minded the Celts as much.

It's weird because I'm the same way. The Celtics don't make me as annoyed as the Sox and the Pats do. The Warriors Code is a good song and it's all about Micky Ward. The second I read your post about that hook he developed later in his career that picture is the one that instantly flashed in my head.

[T0mShane]

I thought he was great in American Psycho, but he's so one-note that it's hard to watch him in anything because you get stuck trying to figure out what all the hype is about. He was just interviewed in Esquire, too. Sounds like a complete jackass off-screen. Pretentious as a motherf*cker.

^This poster is retarded.

Just saw this movie and it was amazing. Wahlberg doesn't actually do much, which is actually perfect because it's Bale's and Amy Adams' movie all the way anyway. I expected Bale to be intense, but wooden (as usual), but he was positively awesome. And Adams has a lingerie scene that all but guarantees me severe carpal tunnel syndrome in my near future. Melissa Leo as Ward's mother is a drag, however--plays every scene like a cartoon character.

Great movie. Must see.

[RutgersJetFan]

It's weird because I'm the same way. The Celtics don't make me as annoyed as the Sox and the Pats do. The Warriors Code is a good song and it's all about Micky Ward. The second I read your post about that hook he developed later in his career that picture is the one that instantly flashed in my head.

It was actually a pretty remarkable thing. He recognized that since he lacked in so many areas, his chin could make up for a lot of his shortcomings if he was willing to stand in and get the crap kicked out of him so he could land it. It cost him a ton of fights, and Gatti eventually even caught on to it, he won the second fight by staying low to the ground and launching overhand rights when ever Ward tried to come in to the body.

[RutgersJetFan]

Here's a great clip of their 2nd fight referenced above, skip to about the 4:40 mark, you'll see Ward push forward and start to go for Gatti's body and he gets caught with an overhand right flush. Ward actually called this one the hardest punch he's ever been hit with and that's saying a lot. I remember thinking at this point in the fight that knockout or not, Gatti likely had Ward figured out by this point. (Ward did knock him down in the 3rd fight, but you have to remember that Gatti broke his right hand during that one and still got the decision).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL0ztpLEZDE&feature=related

[Gainzo]

Here's a great clip of their 2nd fight referenced above, skip to about the 4:40 mark, you'll see Ward push forward and start to go for Gatti's body and he gets caught with an overhand right flush. Ward actually called this one the hardest punch he's ever been hit with and that's saying a lot. I remember thinking at this point in the fight that knockout or not, Gatti likely had Ward figured out by this point. (Ward did knock him down in the 3rd fight, but you have to remember that Gatti broke his right hand during that one and still got the decision).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL0ztpLEZDE&feature=related

Ward and Gatti became good friends after their battles. I remember seeing Micky, on HBO, with bandages all over his face after the 2nd or 3rd fight saying how good Gatti was.

RIP Arturo. You had a friend from Lowell named Micky Ward.

[RutgersJetFan]

Ward and Gatti became good friends after their battles. I remember seeing Micky, on HBO, with bandages all over his face after the 2nd or 3rd fight saying how good Gatti was.

Actually brought him on as his trainer too for his last fight against Alfonso Gomez, which was a sad sight. Gatti was a shell of his former self by that point due to all of the wars he'd been in (Wilson Rodriguez, Ivan Robinson...etc, the list goes on). There's a great video floating around of the two of them after the 3rd fight, they're laying next to each other in the hospital laughing about the damage they just did to each other.

[Jbro22]

For those who saw both, This or Cinderella Man?

And Bale was absolutely awesome in this movie for the doubters.

[Garb]

^This poster is retarded.

Just saw this movie and it was amazing. Wahlberg doesn't actually do much, which is actually perfect because it's Bale's and Amy Adams' movie all the way anyway. I expected Bale to be intense, but wooden (as usual), but he was positively awesome. And Adams has a lingerie scene that all but guarantees me severe carpal tunnel syndrome in my near future. Melissa Leo as Ward's mother is a drag, however--plays every scene like a cartoon character.

Great movie. Must see.

Being a Masshole, I can say without hesitation that Bale was spot on as the charismatic, Irish crack head from Lowell. Still, as far a Massholes go - I say Jeremy Renner's dipiction of a Charlestown "townie" nutbag in The Town was slightly superior to Bale's "townie" d-bag in The Fighter.

[Gainzo]

Actually brought him on as his trainer too for his last fight against Alfonso Gomez, which was a sad sight. Gatti was a shell of his former self by that point due to all of the wars he'd been in (Wilson Rodriguez, Ivan Robinson...etc, the list goes on). There's a great video floating around of the two of them after the 3rd fight, they're laying next to each other in the hospital laughing about the damage they just did to each other.

Here is the video. It is unbelievable the punishment Gatti and Ward inflicted on each other.

[SouthernJet]

i saw. I give it 3 1/2 stars. Dont expect a hell of a lot of boxing. Its more a character movie with some boxing scenes tossed in.

[Vudu]

i liked him in the machinest, thought he was amazing.

I was about to post this. He was amazing in The Machinist. Im shocked people think he's a bad actor.

American Psycho is a classic.

[Gainzo]

i saw. I give it 3 1/2 stars. Dont expect a hell of a lot of boxing. Its more a character movie with some boxing scenes tossed in.

3 1/2 out of 5? What did you think of Bale's performance? You usually give very good detailed breakdowns on movies so I'm disappointed with your writeup

[SouthernJet]

3 1/2 out of 5? What did you think of Bale's performance? You usually give very good detailed breakdowns on movies so I'm disappointed with your writeup

3 1/2 out of 4.

Bale stole flick, deserves Oscar if he is nominated as supporting actor. Colin Firth will win best actor for Kings Speech,

Havent been reviewing flicks lately, sorry, not real motivated.

Amy Adams was good, but I thought Melissa Leo's portrayal as Mickey's Mom was Oscar worthy. Her character , not bales, actually was the protaganist of both Mickey and Dickey's future personalitys and eventual lives.

The sisters were a hoot. I sure hope they dont represent Mass women,,whewwwwwwwwwww

[T0mShane]

Being a Masshole, I can say without hesitation that Bale was spot on as the charismatic, Irish crack head from Lowell. Still, as far a Massholes go - I say Jeremy Renner's dipiction of a Charlestown "townie" nutbag in The Town was slightly superior to Bale's "townie" d-bag in The Fighter.

Renner is a freaky great actor. I can't wait to see what he does with his career. I hope he steals some of the roles that Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon sleepwalk through and wins 20 Oscars. How'd you like Amy Adams? A NY reviewer killed her performance, saying she was mocking Boston's working class.

[Garb]

Renner is a freaky great actor. I can't wait to see what he does with his career. I hope he steals some of the roles that Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon sleepwalk through and wins 20 Oscars. How'd you like Amy Adams? A NY reviewer killed her performance, saying she was mocking Boston's working class.

I think part of her character WAS mocking Boston's working class. I thought her performance was great. The balance between bravado, control and self loathing. I thought the way she pulled off being put together and being a mess.....perfect. The working class girl...gets a scholarship to URI only to screw it up because she "partied too hahad." Still doesn't stop her from thinking she is better than the local "townie" rif-raf from Lowell. If you had to do a background on the character I would bet she is not a townie - rather someone that grew up in a nicer town next to Lowell.

Leo was terrific. May have over-acted in a few spots....the exchanges with her husband George were sometimes cartoonish. I agree with that.