The Unabatedly Stupid Film Project - 19: The Fighter (2010)

This is like every sports/victory/adversity film in existence. Micky Ward (Mark Whalberg) is a down and out boxer and his brother Ricky (Christian Bale) is fucking things up. Then he meets Charlene; (Amy Adams) things get hectic, people yell, punch, drink and just act generally Irish. They work it out and become super-successful.

There was a particularly intrusive rock soundtrack. I didn't mind the music - in fact I liked most of it - but sometimes I just want to hear whatever the fuck the characters are saying. I don't need to hear 'Back in Black' for the umpteenth time. It actually gets to the point where you have to strain to hear vital plot points and gave me the shits.

I liked the use of video rather than film-stock during the 'televised' portions of the film. Since that's the way most people engage with boxing it gave the viewer a familiar and accessible way of engaging with the film. I mean, maybe it's just because I've only ever seen snippets of boxing on TV myself, but I got the impression that it was somehow more legitimate, more real, more gritty, than the warm forgiveness that shooting in film brings. Video doesn't lie, it doesn't make you look like a movie star - all your flaws are visible and you look very, very human. I liked it.

This is a simple film: the trailer tells you everything you need to know. I mean, I couldn't have come up with another way of marketing this film myself, to be honest, but doesn't mean it was effective. I saw this film because of the surprisingly positive reviews that it got - not because of the marketing. I don't like it when trailers do this because it means all the dramatic tension that is meant to intrigue you into sustaining your interest in the film is already laid out. I know he sucks, I know he hooks up with Amy Adams and I know his brother goes to jail. All that's left is him actually winning the world title. Yes, believe it or not, he wins. Oh and whoever came up with the line "He's a fighter, break his hand!' should be shot with a BB gun until they bleed out.

Christian Bale really looks like a crack head - that's a victory. Well done, I guess? Or maybe that's just him. I mean, the role could've been played without going to such a physical extreme but I guess some viewers appreciated the commitment. His acting was good and Walberg was Walberg. Strong and silent and rather more wooden than a piece of pine. It was a good watch, but I'm not really feeling the hype. Maybe it's because I'm not a fan of boxing and the technical language alienated me, or maybe because I'm not a fan of violence generally - but I think the better parts of this film were wasted on me. When it comes down to it, it's a film about fighting - and I'm not into it.

6/10. No rush to see this one in the cinema. Unless you love pine boards or Amy Adam's ass - of which you don't see enough, in my humble opinion.