The Fighter (2010)
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A struggling boxer and his drug-addicted brother must navigate their complicated family ties while pursuing success in the ring.
The story
Micky Ward is an American welterweight boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts, managed by his mother Alice and trained by his older half-brother, Dicky Eklund. Dicky is a former boxer currently struggling with a severe crack cocaine addiction. The narrative follows the brothers as they navigate the pressures of the boxing world and their fractured family dynamics. After Micky suffers a significant loss against a much larger opponent, the brothers must deal with the consequences of Dicky's lifestyle while Micky attempts to rebuild his career and find his footing in the sport.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Micky Ward, a welterweight boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts, is managed by his mother Alice and trained by his older half-brother, Dicky Eklund. Dicky, a former boxer, is struggling with a severe crack cocaine addiction. After Micky suffers a crushing defeat against a much larger substitute opponent, he retreats from the sport and begins a relationship with Charlene Fleming. Meanwhile, Dicky's life spirals as he is filmed for a documentary that exposes his addiction. Following a series of events that leads to Dicky's imprisonment and Micky's injury, the brothers eventually find a path toward reconciliation. Micky resumes training under a new manager, and the brothers eventually reunite to prepare for a title fight in London. Micky wins the welterweight title, and the film concludes with a look at their lives after the fight, showing Micky's successful career and marriage, while Dicky remains a local legend.
- First release year
- 2010
- Runtime (minutes)
- 116
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- David O. Russell
- Writers
- Scott Silver · screenplay; Paul Tamasy · screenplay; Eric Johnson · screenplay; Keith Dorrington · story; Paul Tamasy · story; Eric Johnson · story
- Cast and characters
- Mark Wahlberg · Micky Ward; Christian Bale · Dick "Dicky" Eklund; Amy Adams · Charlene Fleming; Melissa Leo · Alice Eklund-Ward; Jack McGee · George Ward; Frank Renzulli · Sal Lanano; Mickey O'Keefe · himself; Jenna Lamia · Sherri "The Baby" Ward
- Genres
- biographical; sports drama
- Themes
- brotherhood; redemption; addiction
- Tone and mood
- serious; dramatic
- Setting
- Massachusetts, New Jersey, and London during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
- Premise and plot tags
- boxing; family drama; biography
- Source material / true-story basis
- High on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell (1995)
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the cast performances, particularly Christian Bale's transformation.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 91% · scale: percentage · review count: 256; Metacritic · score: 79 · scale: 100 · review count: 41
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; Critics' Choice Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Critics' Choice Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; Golden Globe Award · Best Director · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Picture (Drama) · nomination; Golden Globe Award · Best Actor (Drama) · nomination; Screen Actors Guild Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; Screen Actors Guild Award · Best Supporting Actress · win; British Academy Film Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination; British Academy Film Award · Best Supporting Actress · nomination; Satellite Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; National Board of Review Award · Best Supporting Actor · win
- Production trivia
- Mark Wahlberg refused a stunt double and took real punches during the fight scenes.; The film's boxing match footage was created using actual commentary from HBO's Larry Merchant, Roy Jones Jr., and Jim Lampley.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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