The Fighter

Plot

A look at the early years of boxer "Irish" Micky Ward and his brother who helped train him before going pro in the mid 1980s.

Release Year: 2010

Rating: 7.9/10 (103,184 voted)

Critic's Score: 79/100

Director:
David O. Russell

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams

Storyline
The Fighter, is a drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer on the verge of being KO'd by drugs and crime.

Writers: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy

Cast:

Mark Wahlberg
–

Micky Ward

Christian Bale
–

Dicky Eklund

Amy Adams
–

Charlene Fleming

Melissa Leo
–

Alice Ward

Mickey O'Keefe
–

Mickey O'Keefe

Jack McGee
–

George Ward

Melissa McMeekin
–

'Little Alice' Eklund

Bianca Hunter
–

Cathy 'Pork' Eklund

Erica McDermott
–

Cindy 'Tar' Eklund

Jill Quigg
–

Donna Eklund Jaynes

Dendrie Taylor
–

Gail 'Red Dog' Eklund

Kate B. O'Brien
–

Phyllis 'Beaver' Eklund

(as Kate O'Brien)

Jenna Lamia
–

Sherri Ward

Frank Renzulli
–

Sal Lanano

Paul Campbell
–

Gary 'Boo Boo' Giuffrida

Taglines:
Every dream deserves a fighting chance.

Details

Official Website:
Official site |
Official site [France] |

Release Date: 17 December 2010

Filming Locations: Lexington, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office Details

Budget: $25,000,000

(estimated)

Opening Weekend: $300,010
(USA)
(12 December 2010)
(4 Screens)

Gross: $129,190,869
(Worldwide)
(31 March 2011)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Did You Know?

Trivia:

The young man who rushes into the restaurant to warn the Eklund-Ward family that Dicky is being beat up by the cops, is actually Sean Eklund, nephew of the real Micky Ward and Dick Eklund and became New England Lightweight boxing champion in 2010.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs:
The song "Strip My Mind" by Red Hot Chili Peppers from 2006 is played during the montage of Micky's training and Dickie's prison stay. It is heard only by the audience, not the characters in the story.

Quotes:

Mickey Ward:
I'm the one who's fighting. Not you, not you, and not you.

User Review

Whalberg's Corner

Rating: 9/10


In many ways, "The Fighter" is the film of 2011. A family drama with a
pugilistic background. The punches, physical and emotional in and out
of the ring took me completely by surprise. What didn't surprise me was
Mark Whalberg's signature all over the place. Let me explain: Many
years ago I was at a lecture by director Martin Donovan when during the
Q&A somebody made fun of the fact that Calvin Klein underwear model
Marky Mark had played a part (his first acting role) in Donovan's made
for TV "The Substitute" Donovan with elegance and firmness destroyed
the guy asking the question, describing Whalberg's strengths and ended
up saying "Mark Whalberg will be one of the top actors around and he
will probably be running Hollywood within a decade" I had Donovan's
words buzzing in my ears when I sat speechless watching "Boogie
Nights". Whalberg also produced "Entourage" and the startling "In
Treatment". He now produced "The Fighter" and his performance, interior
and powerful, dominates the film allowing other members of the cast, to
shine in truly showy roles, Christian Bale for instance – really good.
Melissa Leo is a stand out as the mother/manager. Superb. So I won't be
surprised to see Mark Whalberg receiving the top honors at the next
Academy Awards, as an actor and producer. He certainly deserves it.
Bravo!