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Saturday, May 11, 2024
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HOLLYWOOD THE FIGHTER
EDITOR'S PICK
Rating: ****
Hollywood has done endless sports films, of rising against
the odds. One of the most popular sub-genre in this is boxing films. In this
over populated field, is there a possibility for doing something new?
As "The Fighter" shows, there indeed is.
Micky Ward is a boxer who is no more in his prime and is more like a stepping
stone for bigger boxers. The reason for this is his family, especially his
brother Dicky, a crack addict who, as a former boxer, is also his trainer.
After a brawl caused by Dicky almost causes Micky to lose his hand and land
Dicky in prison, Micky decides to take life in his own hands. When Dicky
returns, now reformed, Micky does not want him. But can the two brothers really
stay separate.
The family - the greatest source of strength and support for an individual, can
also become his weakness. And that is what Mickey faces. But if the family comes
together once again, an individual can achieve anything.
Thus, while "Rocky" was about an individual pushing himself to the
top, "Raging Bull" about a self-destructive boxer pulling himself
down, "Cinderella Man" about the interference of politics and
economics, "The Fighter" is the fight of an entire family that touches
rock bottom only to stand by each other and emerge stronger.
Hence, though the main protagonist is Micky, the story is really not about him.
It is more Dicky`s story, the crack addict who is an embarrassment not just to
the family but to the entire town. It is not whether Micky can do it, but
whether Dicky can improve himself because often a family is as strong as its
weakest member.
The uneasy relationship of a family with each other, is one of the most soaring
achievements of "The Fighter". And this is exactly what moves the film
from the realms of being a mere boxing film, to becoming a soaring family film
that will stay relevant through the ages.
Christian Bale soars in his portrayal of a delusional addict Dicky. The
performance could have gone over the top for an actor with lesser skills. But
Bale`s delicate handling of a man who rises from his own ashes is deserving of
an Oscar, something that can also be said of director David O. Russell who is
also up for best director Oscar.
