Rated R for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality.
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams
Directed by David O. Russell (I Heart Huckabees and Three Kings)
One of the best films of the year.
The Fighter, is true story 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 who rebounded in life after nearly being KO’d by drugs and crime.
I grew up on the Rocky films…in fact I still get chills when I hear “Eye of the Tiger”. With lines like, “I’m gonna bust you up,” “Go for it” and “I must break you,” Rocky was a character that defined a generation. Well before today I had never heard of “Irish” Micky Ward and there are no clever one liners before the fights. But the story is just as good…in fact because this is a true story…it’s even better. Yeah I’m a sucker for a good sports story.
Besides having an amazing true story, The Fighter has one of the best casts I have seen together in a while. The headlines (Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams) should all be Oscar nominees if not winners. I honestly believe that Christian Bale is one of the most talented actors in Hollywood today. Sure he’s the best Batman ever, but when he plays a character like Dicky, he blows me away. I mean the entire film I’m “grossed out” by the guy I am seeing on the screen, and then I see a short clip of the real Dicky during the credits and all I can think is, “he nailed it”.
This next part may get me in trouble with our readers in the New England area, but there really is an obscene amount of cursing in this film. Why do Bostoners swear so much?? I don’t have an answer, but I wish it was toned down just a bit.
Even with all the swearing, this was still one of the best films I have seen in a while. I loved it. It’s Worth Buying for sure.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
As great as this movie is, there are plenty of reasons why younger viewers should not watch The Fighter. It is rated R for language throughout, and believe me there are plenty of F-bombs. Dicky is shown smoking crack and detoxing in prison. There is also one scene where Micky and Charlene are both in their underwear and are seen kissing before they are interrupted by Micky’s family.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: What’s the message/theme of this movie?
A: There are plenty of themes in this edgy film, but one of the main themes is perseverance. In the film, Micky has to overcome so many obstacles, so many failures, so many adversities to achieve his goal.
Q: How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
A: In 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Paul compares our journey as Christians to the training a boxer endures to become a champion. He writes, “All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” (NLT)
So too can we overcome our struggles with obstacles and failures and adversities.
Q: How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
A: That’s the real question. In the same way a boxer can’t just think about training, he really needs to hit the gym, run, lift weights and spar, we can’t just think about training to become stronger Christians. We need to discipline ourselves. We need to spend time reading His word. We need to spend time praying. We need to spend time with other Christians.
In the movie everyone wanted Micky to be a champion, but they all had their own thoughts on how to make that happen. It wasn’t until Micky came up with his plan that he found success.
So what can you do this week to “hit the gym”? Do you have the right people around you that are going to make you a champion?
