jonnieharris Magnificently engaging from the get go, an unparalleled performance from Christian bale and the controversial tale of the Eklund brothers presented in a deliberate, sincere manner secures The Fighters position as one of the greatest biographical films in cinematic history. Oscar recognition thoroughly deserved, indisputably appreciated by all film enthusiasts.

Kevin Pora Christian Bale is never a letdown... All his films are remarkable in my opinion. Awesome Action and Great Story-line. Marky Mark plays the part like a champ. This movie is a "must see" for Boxing fans! Check it out to appreciate it. You will not regret watching this. I've viewed it about five times...

CinemaClown Powered by terrific performances from its cast, The Fighter also happens to be David O. Russell's best film to date that may not rank amongst the finest examples of its genre but it still serves as a competently crafted sports biopic that's less about the sport & more about the athlete, his family & his path to redemption.The story of The Fighter follows the life of professional boxer Micky Ward who withdraws from the boxing world after suffering a humiliating defeat in a match he already had reservations about. The plot chronicles the journey he takes to get back into the ring while focusing on his relationship with his brother whose own life has taken a self-destructive route.Directed by David O. Russell (best known for Silver Linings Playbook & American Hustle), the story journeys the same route that majority of boxing films tend to take plus also falls flat in between on a few occasions but what infuses a vibrant energy into it is the rich set of interesting characters it packs in & a talented ensemble that brings those characters to life with finesse.The boxing sequences are brilliantly choreographed and do provide the necessary adrenaline high when it matters but this picture is more focused on the relationship between the two brothers and illustrates it amazingly well, for those moments do pack a powerful punch. But it also suffers from letting it characters go a bit overboard at times, something that has become a norm in O. Russell's films of lately.Coming to the performances, the cast comprises of Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Christian Bale & Melissa Leo, with Bale & Leo impressing the most. It's not that the input by leading cast falls short in any aspect, it's just that Bale & Leo take their supporting characters to a different level, and the Academy Award they won for their respective works in this feature film is definitely an earned one.On an overall scale, The Fighter is no genre masterpiece but it still offers a sufficiently entertaining ride that will leave majority of its viewers satisfied in the end. It's not without its shortcomings but most of them get brushed away by the powerful, explosive & riveting performances delivered by its ensemble. The story isn't memorable by any means but what Bale & Leo pull off here will continue to reverberate for a few more years down the line.

hegedus_dani02 I sat down with high expectations to view to this movie, partly because of Christian Bale's Academy Award and of David O. Russell's direction, and I wasn't disappointed. Christian Bale totally deserves his supporting actor Oscar and I think he should've also received it for his stunning acting in Brad Anderson's The Machinist. Mark Wahlberg's performance is quite shy near Bale's, but it's also great. David O. Russell's direction is amazing. It's clearly seen that Darren Aronofsky's participation as an executive producer gave a lot for this production. The cinematography is stunning. Hoyte van Hoytema is one of the best cinematographer of all time, beside Wally Phister, Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubeczki. There aren't any weak points of this drama. The story is complete and entertaining. This film is definitely worth a watch. It is in the best fighting/boxing based movies of the 21st century, among Clint Eastwood Million Dollar Baby, Darren Aronofsky's THe Wrestler and Gavin O'Connor's Warrior. 10/10