Culture

Directed by David O. Russell. Hoyts, Rialto 5/5
I went to see The Fighter knowing only that it was a boxing film, that Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale were its stars, and that it was a nominee for an Oscar for Best Picture. Other than that, I had no idea what to expect. So as I watched the understated story of Wahlberg’s C-list boxer trying to achieve the success of which he is capable - despite his disruptive family and low self-esteem - it was with great surprise that I found myself enjoying it so much.
The Fighter stands out for me from the other Oscar nominees because it is unassuming, and really in touch with its characters. Wahlberg and Bale give excellent performances as two boxing brothers and it’s obvious that they tried as hard as they could to faithfully represent the real people behind them. This faithfulness, which spreads to all aspects of a film, is what makes The Fighter so endearing and in large part a portrait of lower-class America. Although the story is not particularly surprising, and the film towards the end shies away from some of the core conflicts between Wahlberg’s boxer and his chaotic family, it is so good-hearted and understanding towards its characters that suchweaknesses seem insignificant. 
Furthermore, The Fighter is also just a lot of fun to watch. There are sad moments, funny moments, sexy, thoughtful and exciting moments. It captured me from the very beginning and kept me engaged right through to the end. Everyone else in the cinema seemed to be enjoying themselves too, and I left the film feeling really satisfied. Finally, if I had to take a girl I liked to any one film from the 2011 Oscars’ ten Best Picture nominees, it would be The Fighter. Really, is there any higher praise than that?