Watch
The Fighter

The Fighter

2010
Drama, Biography
1h 56m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 60.79% from 5307 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(5307)
Compact view
Compact view
Rated 22 Dec 2010
4
51st
It's about as original and interesting as its title suggests, not to mention possessing about as much personality as its lead character. The boxing scenes are uninspired and the family drama is even less involving. Not even Batman can save this bland sports movie.
Rated 18 Dec 2010
50
29th
Full disclosure: I dislike boxing. In fact, I don't care for sports pictures in general. Apparently, O'Russell doesn't either because the training and the matches get short shrift. Instead, focus is on two things: Bale's fight with crack addiction and Wahlberg standing up to his fucked-up family. Although Bale is mostly very good (albeit, the diet thing is getting creepy) and the idea of a quiet younger brother yearning for attention had potential, all it amounts to is a ham-and-cheese sandwich.
Rated 16 Jan 2011
8
82nd
Great companion piece for High on Crack Street, another film I enjoyed except this time we get to see things from Micky's perspective instead of Dicky's. It's very well made and it looks really good and the performances are excellent, especially Bale who really does steal every scene he's in. And yes, this movie is a huge cliche but it works so well that it's pretty hard to care unless you suck
Rated 02 Jan 2011
4
33rd
By far David O. Russell's weakest film to date. Bale and Leo are convincing, larger than life characters, but the rest of the film is simply bland and forgettable.
Rated 18 Jan 2011
86
79th
Christian Bale's performance and the examination of an unbelievably dysfunctional family lift a traditional underdog sports-story to the emotional level of a dramatic biopic. Wahlberg plays to an appropriately quiet strength and Amy Adams is refreshingly bold. The messed up Ward/Ecklund family is at times difficult to fathom (the sisters frighten me), but prove to be a potentailly all-absorbing obstacle for Micky to overcome.
Rated 09 Feb 2011
82
80th
This is a fantastic film that draws you in to a pretty "dislikeable" bunch of individuals, and MAKES you care. Whilst Bales performance is getting all the plaudits, it is Whalberg who is the solid anchor to the film, that everything else revolves around. Without his stoic, sensible, intelligent "heart" we wouldnt care about this bunch of losers. There is not a moment where this film loses credibility, realism, character, or indeed humour ... and the boxing scenes are great
Rated 29 Dec 2010
8
80th
Somehow manages not to fall into typical cliche oscar boxing romp and actually be a great movie. All the drama clicks into place perfectly and is performed admirably by the cast. Bale gives a monstrous effort.
Rated 19 Dec 2010
6
70th
Definitely a triumph of style over substance: the script is the exact same underdog boxing story we've seen a million times (except for giving the protagonist a rabble of meddling sisters), but the filmmaking and atmosphere and Christian Bale and Melissa Leo's outstanding performances lift it to something rather entertaining.
Rated 22 Dec 2010
59
10th
Boxing films. Boy, those can fall into Generic Land so easily. O. Russell does some interesting things to keep it from totally settling there, but in the end I've had plain pieces of bread less predictable than The Fighter. Bale's performance is a little much at first, but once you warm up to him he quickly becomes the show-stealer. See it for him or skip it.
Rated 17 Feb 2011
60
54th
I expected much worse. It's Hollywood, it's boxing, it's Mark Wahlberg - horrible cocktail - but what pulls it through I guess, is that the film uses all these ingredients, which by normal standards are tasteless, in way that made that made the film a vibrant dish. The meta-fictional aspect worked, the boxing sequence (which I normally despise more than my own father) worked, the social realism aspect on the other hand didn't - part of it due to the fact that Leo is quite unconvincing.
Rated 28 Jan 2011
96
99th
Few movies would I actually buy to keep rewatching, and this makes that list. I love how they intertwine the actual broadcasts of Wards real fights into his fight scenes. I am also a C. Bale fan for life now. The interactions between him, M. Leo (the mom), and Amy Adams (the gf) are great. Wahlberg does a solid job, but the other three really steal the show here. The scene on Adams front porch where she speaks with Leo and Wards sisters is great. Oh man I can't wait to watch this again.
Rated 28 Dec 2010
70
63rd
Pretty formulaic sport/underdog film saved by two strong acting performances. Bale will get all the press as the washed up older brother, but Wahlberg's portrayal of the meek and humble Ward is also compelling. The boxing scenes were OK, but still nothing approaching real life boxing.
Rated 21 Dec 2010
89
97th
Its not about boxing its about life. Boxing is just a back drop in the movie while the real heart of the movie is the all the interaction going on in Micky's Wards family, the cast was great and Christian Bale just put on an all time great performance, congrats on the Oscar. Amazing life drama everyone should see even if you dont like boxing.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
47
7th
Bale should win an Oscar for most acting.
Rated 16 Mar 2011
50
27th
Completely average, non-descript Hollywood drama.
Rated 30 Dec 2010
86
92nd
Critics have been saying that the acting saves this film from being a generic boxing drama, but I think David O. Russell deserves more credit than that. This is not a boxing movie, but a study of a dysfunctional low class family who for better or worse are extremely important to each other. Christian Bale is fantastic in this. Although, again, every actor is good in this. Wahlberg and Adams are good, Jack McGee is great, & Melissa Leo is good but is the only one that goes a little over the top
Rated 30 Dec 2010
84
85th
And enter another boxing movie...yet The Fighter brings a little more to the table. Wahlberg is solid, but the performances that surround him are fantastic. Not only are Bale, Adams, and Leo amazing, but the whole dysfunctional side of Lowell that is shown is wildly entertaining. Maybe predictable, but a very entertaining and emotional film.
Rated 02 Jan 2011
60
52nd
I like a good sportsfilm, but this is not one of them. First of all it is not much about boxing (not untill the end though), but about family and a twisted one that is. Bale is great as Mickey's crackaddicted brother Dickie and Wahlberg does allright with what he has to work with. I liked the aesthetics of the matches, the way they were shown as were they beeing watched on the telly, but in the end you sit back and wonder what all the fuzz is about... Only Oscar material is Bale, nothing else...
Rated 01 Feb 2011
40
28th
Early in the movie Mickey tries to chat up a girl. Suddenly Bale arrives and steals the scene. This is typical for 'The Fighter', who's main character is without just that. Bale is so desperately Oscar baiting, that he sets the entire movie off balance against Wahlberg's deadpan acting. It IS a poor man's Rocky, more interested in drama than sports, with fighting sequences so lousily executed, that I'd rather recommend 'Over the Top' - and that one is about armwrestling.
Rated 20 Mar 2011
85
83rd
David O. Russell may be an asshole but I'll be damned if he can't make a good movie. Though the boxing scenes feel very hollywoodish (aka. one guy getting beat up until he overcomes some internal struggle then suddenly turns everything around) the dramatic elements of the film work very well. Wahlberg gives a tremendous performance as a capable but vulnerable individual. Amy Adams really shows her diversity going from super sweet in Enchanted to a foul-mouthed confident woman.
Rated 20 Dec 2010
65
64th
Good movie. Not even close to Raging Bull but definitely better than Rocky. Also, congrats to Christian Bale on the Oscar.
Rated 21 Dec 2010
90
93rd
The boxing takes a backseat to dysfunctional family drama, and David O'Russell handles it perfectly. "The Fighter" packs an emotional punch to gut, brims with humor, and shakes of sadness. Wahlberg is perfectly overshadowed by his fierce co-stars, particularly Bale and Melissa Leo delivering career-defining roles. You won't find a larger grab-bag of talent and power this season.
Rated 28 Feb 2011
40
15th
"Say 'hi' to your mother for me."
Rated 29 Apr 2011
78
58th
Nothing to great about this movie but otherwise not to bad.
Rated 26 Jan 2011
75
52nd
This has some good moments here and there, Bale and Leo are great, Wahlberg is awful as usual, but in the end the film isn't all that memorable.
Rated 18 Jan 2011
40
23rd
I kind of decided I hated this within the first 10 minutes of Bale's extremely overdone (and even more overrated) one-man-show psychosis. As I grew to know the characters (especially the mother greatly played by Melissa Leo and the hotter than hell Amy Adams) I softened up, but just a tad. Mediocre moviemaking somehow hailed as one of the highpoints of the year.
Rated 02 Jan 2011
75
74th
Well as a fan of boxing let me tell you that the scenes in the ring were absolutely pitiful. Not a single blow looked like it was landed and the actors playing the boxers, including Bale and Wahlberg, need more training on what boxing actually looks like. As for the movie... it was alright. Whoopdy doo, Bale knows how to loose some weight. Who cares. Neither of the two stepped out of their zone. I don't see any Oscars coming out of this, although I'm not as retarded as the Academy so...
Rated 26 Dec 2010
94
94th
Real life is far more thrilling than any title bout when it's depicted as vividly & rawly as it is here. Wahlberg does a fine job as the second-favorite brother who's hit harder by his family than any1 else, but he's appropriately overshadowed by a livewire Bale who steals every scene given his character's crack-fueled intensity. This smartly focuses on all the fights outside the ring b/c that's where the real stakes r & where this distinguishes itself from other underdog-makes-good melodramas.
Rated 18 Feb 2011
74
33rd
i can't see what is special in this film. okay, i'll give it's credit, boxing scenes were well done and eyecandy as the scenes in cinderella man. overall it's not good as an HBO movie either.
Rated 26 Feb 2011
75
66th
Refreshing in its unsentimental portrayal of an underdog/against-all-odds story with some of the best performances of the year (yes, Leo and Bale are both good despite the overacting due to the one-sidedness of their characters so it's not their fault. But Adams was the best). It manages to escape the sports film genre trappings by first and foremost, fully establishing the conflict and the characters' stark background and avoiding over-reliance on emotionally manipulative inspirational scenes.
Rated 26 Apr 2011
62
35th
There's enough good acting and good scenes to make this eye-rolling melodrama somewhat worth watching.
Rated 09 Mar 2011
85
88th
Despite being more a movie involving boxing, is only the wallpaper for a good drama and great performances.
Rated 01 Feb 2011
84
77th
A solid very well made boxing movie. Between the acting and the camerawork it's very easy to get drawn in and connect to the material as it feels almost like watching a documentary at times. It lacked that something special as the general arc has been done to death, but the execution lifts it above the fray.
Rated 28 Feb 2011
55
57th
It was good as a movie on overall, the drama was well presented, but sportswise the movie lacked the intensity I expected. I couldn't help but compare these fights to those of Rocky's. And Rocky fights are superior in all aspects imo. Preperation, tension building, movements, punches, face damage representation etc.
Rated 02 Mar 2011
80
70th
While the plot is simplistic and not all that engaging, the characters are riveting. Great performances and excellent casting throughout, helps to make a lot from a little.
Rated 23 May 2011
91
88th
The first scene alone secured Bale's globe, beyond terrific.
Rated 07 Feb 2011
87
75th
An amazing performance from Bale as older brother Dickey who outshines a movie that looks like it's supposed to be about Mickey/Wahlberg. Bale steals all the limelight and turns an already good movie into a great movie. Not amazing or outstanding, but great nonetheless. It's funny at times which helps move this drama along at a reasonable pace. Well worth a watch if just to see Bale in an oscar-winning performance, but the surrounding film is great behind him.
Rated 19 Jan 2011
40
25th
Bale is extremely into character, with a wonderful performance like nothing he's done before. Walhberg is regular milquetoast Marky Mark. He's lifeless throughout the movie. Even his "incredible" liver punch looks so half-hearted I almost burst out laughing (and then they showed the replay of it twice!). The rest of the cast is good in a "I hate them, but I guess that's the point" kind of way. Unfortunately, it's a fairly predictable sports story, and the soundtrack was irritating.
Rated 15 Jan 2011
77
86th
A great character study on Ecklund and Ward, two boxers and half-brothers from the working-class town of Lowell, MA who each seek their own redemption. Ecklund must overcome his drug addiction and cope with a career whose peak is behind him, and Ward must overcome his family and make a name for himself in the boxing world. Though the story isn't the most original, the performances and direction lift the film above the fray. An extra kudos to Bale who literally disappears into the role of Ecklund
Rated 18 Dec 2010
45
20th
How the hell can this be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar? Must be the guy-against-the-odds-story. Forgettable, clichéed plot, more caricatures than you want to count as well as some boring, ugly shot boxing scenes. Only the stellar acting (especially from Melissa Leo, Amy Adams and Bale) saves it from being a complete disaster.
Rated 21 Jun 2011
72
71st
"Go back to Amirweeka"...lol. "The Fighter" is superbly written, with great performances and interesting characters, although Russell is not a director to get excited about. Thought Melissa Leo's performance was very overrated personally, but Bale, Marky Mark and Adams are all outstanding.
Rated 05 Mar 2011
75
81st
there's not really that much happening in terms of story. still, the expertly chosen cast (even wahlberg does a decent job) makes watching worthwile. the way nearly every other character projects his personal dream on mickey ward and almost suffocates him with it is acted out very well. you get a slight feeling of being strangled yourself while watching the way his family and friends claw away at him. apart from the rare and predictable boxing matches it is an entertaining experience.
Rated 16 Apr 2011
59
51st
An overrated film, The Fighter's only strength is the Oscar-winning performance by Christian Bale (and even that should never have won the Award). I will not go as far as saying that this is a bad film, but it can't score any higher than "mediocre"... The acting is decent, the story is ok (but the setting is boring); only Amy Adams caught my eye in a positive way. In short: disappointing.
Rated 23 Jan 2011
83
81st
Christian Bale, you're the man!
Rated 20 Apr 2011
78
48th
good movie
Rated 22 May 2012
91
83rd
Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale are phenomenal in this tense, emotionally fraught character study. The boxing scenes are engaging and powerful, the stakes are ever-high and ever-present. I did marginally prefer The Wrestler, as comparable films go (it's in my top 50), but The Fighter is almost as strong.
Rated 16 Aug 2011
55
18th
This was not my interpretation of a good sports movie. In fact I was absolutely disappointed and can not comprehend how "The Fighter" could win so many Oscars.If you wanna see a good boxing movie watch "Raging Bull" for God sake.
Rated 05 Sep 2011
73
64th
It's hard not to compare The Fighter to Rocky or The Wrestler, but the deeper focus on family helps it stand on its own. The cast is decent, Bale was simply great but at times dominating the movie. A shame the big emotional moments don't really pack a punch. And man, how horrific must living with that family of six shrewish, low-class 90's women be?
Rated 18 Dec 2010
90
97th
Based on the true story of Micky Ward, The Fighter isn't so much about boxing as it is about the relationships between different members in a specific family. It uses boxing as a backdrop, a catalyst to bring forward the drama that the film deals with. The drama is intense, the fights are entertaining, and the characters are interesting. All of the performances were great with the supporting cast overshadowing, yet not totally negating Wahlberg's performance as the lead.
Rated 16 Jan 2011
86
72nd
Boxing movies are such a (successful) formula that I think this one still gets pegged as a part of that. But the interesting slant here is that it's not the main character's flaws that hold him back, it's the people he holds dear. It's a great twist and executed superbly. One thing: if you have a mute button handy, make sure to use it for the soundtrack, dear god
Rated 28 Dec 2010
67
56th
When Christian Bale jumped out the window the second time was pretty funny. The boxing parts looked bad.
Rated 26 Feb 2011
70
80th
Mistakes - In the scene where Micky is introducing Charlene to the family and telling Alice & Dicky that he doesn't want to be managed or trained by them anymore in one shot there is a Rock 'em Sock 'em game on the end table, and in the next shot it's not there.
Rated 19 Mar 2011
74
27th
Fairly bland, beyond some cartoonish moments. Oftentimes fails to transcend the trash (the Greek chorus of white trash spinsters was pretty funny.)
Rated 18 Dec 2010
80
78th
I'm not a huge boxing fan, but there is a soft spot in my heart for boxing movies. This is one of the better ones. The boxing situations are old hat (poor guy who has a defining moment in his career where he can either quit or keep going, keeps going and works his way up to a championship bout). Where this movies shines is with the relationships surrounding the boxing. It's more about Wahlberg's fight with finding his place within his family and Bale's fight with cocaine addiction. Entertaining.
Rated 26 Dec 2010
38
16th
If only the entire film had been devoted to Dickey's crack habits, his illegal attempts to make a buck which ultimately lead him back to prison, and his inclination to jump out of windows; meanwhile, Micky and his girlfriend are unable to ever leave Lowell because they're harassed by his mother and cadre of seven sisters who pack into tiny cars like clowns. This story would have worked better as a sitcom or cartoon; as it is, it lacks raw emotion like "Rocky" and style like "Raging Bull".
Rated 14 Feb 2011
67
43rd
Well made and entertaining throughout, although it doesn't really leave me feeling much of anything. The fight scenes are weak, and not as exciting as they should be. The acting saves it from total mediocrity.
Rated 28 Feb 2011
50
33rd
I - Couldn't - Care - LESS about Wahlberg's boxing careerer, and it seems like O'Russell feels the same... Still there's some good acting in here, even if Bale steals the show every chance he gets.
Rated 22 Jan 2011
65
39th
A somewhat weak movie with a weak leading male. The supporting cast are awesome. Mellisa Leo is scene stealing as the white trash mother, I'm smelling a possible Oscar, Amy Adams shows us that she can da more than play a princess or a wax model in a bad sequel. Bale once again steals the picture. His portrayel of Dickie is honest and brutal. Bale is a certain shoe-in for the Oscars, sorry John Hawkes from Winter's Bone. Wahlberg is bland and way out of his league with actors like Leo and Bale.
Rated 27 Feb 2011
8
78th
"And though I can fight I'd much rather recite That's entertainment. That's entertainment."
Rated 05 Dec 2011
75
45th
It doesn't bring anything new to the table, but it's a solid melodrama.
Rated 30 Aug 2011
3
1st
People mistakenly take a hard-movie-to-watch as a good movie. I really do understand it, I used to make the same mistake when I was.. let's see.. 12? 13? All you get in this awful movie is a bunch of south ignorance, a Boo-Hoo tragic hero, some poor boxing montage , and when you think you've had enough - you get Christian Bale. Well, maybe after his rolles as a wannabe-crossdresser in "Velvet Goldmine" and fudging batman, he should consider sticking with the crystal meth >
Rated 29 Jan 2011
81
73rd
Bale is again phenomenal and has great chemistry with Wahlberg. Quite simple story but superb execution.
Rated 21 Apr 2011
81
91st
Nice Movie
Rated 23 Jan 2011
65
42nd
Old-fashioned and predictable, "The Fighter" is nevertheless a solid, compelling entry in the genre and overcomes most of its deficiencies, thanks to O. Russell's superb direction and a set of very fine performances (Whalberg, Leo and especially Bale are very strong, although I didn't care about Adams). However, the script is very flawed: the family issues storyline is left unexploited and the resolution is lame, while the ending is anticlimatic and not quite as uplifting as it should be.
Rated 23 Mar 2011
25
27th
Clichéd boxing tale with some very strange acting choices. Bale and Leo are completely cartoonish and ridiculous, but they're still infinitely preferable to Wahlberg, a proud graduate from the Just Standing There school of dramatic arts. The plot is the same old melodramatic routine, complete with the same manipulative slant that made Million Dollar Baby such a chore to sit through.
Rated 06 Nov 2017
67
61st
Reasonably entertaining boxing melodrama. I utterly fail to understand Christian Bale's appeal as an actor...subtlety does not seem to be in his repertoire. Melissa Leo is just fantastic, and dominates every scene she's in. Amy Adams is also good. But in a way, the Boston-underbelly atmosphere is the dominating force.
Rated 03 Jan 2011
84
95th
Maybe not the best boxing scenes ever depicted, but, after all, it's not really about that. Leo and Bale are sure fire Oscar-winners after this, and probably rightly so.
Rated 06 Feb 2011
61
18th
Better than I expected, but I had very low expectations. I'm not sure which is worse: Wahlberg's sleepwalking through his role, or Bale's scenery-chewing. And the film is formulaic and clichéd to the extreme, right down to the training montages. And yet, it's an effective formula. What really works is the dynamic between the characters, the conflict between Micky's family life and his professional life. Again, it's nothing special... but it works. Surprisingly watchable, yet unremarkable.
Rated 26 Jan 2011
83
92nd
Christian Bale performance will win him an oscar for sure, definitely one of the top 3 movies of the year
Rated 27 Aug 2012
80
81st
The whole cast was great, but I have to distinguish a role - Charlene, played by the magnificent Amy Adams. Great Ass, great set of tits, but most importanly [you probably already stopped reading this review:P] her incredibly strong acting skills, which connects with just every other character in the film, making their performances even better. I have to say, I had a blast watching this movie. As entertainment it's right next to Fincher's "Girl with a Dragon Tatoo".
Rated 24 Jun 2020
60
55th
This is a tale of two films and a diametric change in David O. Russell as a director. I absolutely hate Bale, and in this he's actually decent but matches against Wahlberg like Bugs Bunny across Frank Sinatra. There's a story here, but it's told through too many different filters to make anything feel specifically impactful. Also based on a true story the same way Pearl Harbor is based on a true story.
Rated 05 Jan 2011
90
90th
Maybe the best Boxing movie ever made. It's clear the time and dedication that Whalberg, Bale and Adams put in and it paid off in spades. Don't miss this one, you'll regret it.
Rated 10 Jan 2011
78
80th
Initially, it's less a boxing movie than it is a fairly fascinating tale of one poor guy's desperate need to get away from his abhorrent, toxic family. And there are some undeniably great moments, like the "Belle Epoque" date and Amy Adams facing down Christian Bale on her front porch. By the end, though, it's become a boxing movie, and a fairly rote one, complete with a "Rocky"-esque fadeout and such. And that toxic family of his? They get off way too easy.
Rated 05 Mar 2011
67
90th
#11#, hype, story, reviews, casting.
Rated 09 Mar 2011
77
44th
Dober film, klasična zgodba in res top karakterji in igralci.
Rated 22 May 2011
70
28th
They could have done more the the story of the older brother. The story is a good one, but not good enough (for a higher score).
Rated 26 Jun 2011
85
90th
Believable drama (based on truth to be fair). Christian Bale is superb and his study of a crack addict looks spot on. In any boxing drama there is winner and losers but it's how they get there that delivers the interest, and this has interst in spades!
Rated 19 Aug 2012
95
95th
I'm a sucker for this kind of cinema. I like my heartstrings plucked with some genuine craft. A well deserved Oscar for Christian Bale for an outstanding performance.
Rated 05 Feb 2011
80
78th
Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams are terrific. What a great ensemble cast and great characters. Fenomenal.
Rated 25 Jul 2011
78
66th
Fairly decent for a sports drama, but it's still a sports drama, and I have a hard time understanding why padded pugilism should be so entertaining. If you're going to beat somebody up, why wear pillows on your fists? Anyway, Bale is good, the rest could have been thrown out, but if that were the case it'd be a movie about a has been boxer who likes to smoke crack, and that would only pass on the lifetime channel.
Rated 13 Feb 2012
83
93rd
The characters felt a little too much like characters, which detracts from the feeling of telling a true story a bit. But, it's immensely entertaining, Bale is off-the-charts, and the boxing scenes are some of the finest I've seen. Great movie
Rated 20 Jul 2014
70
70th
Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams give convincing performances in this boxing drama that includes some gritty personal history, drug addiction and family drama. I also liked Jack McGee and Melissa Leo in this. The fighting in the ring was well done and felt authentic. Overall the movie is fairly well made, but they glossed over the personal story between Mickey and Charlene.
Rated 19 Dec 2015
90
56th
Decent. Good performances. Bale especially gives it a great run.
Rated 16 Sep 2012
51
54th
Some good performances, but the story is a run-of-the-mill Hollywood heartwarmer.
Rated 03 May 2011
67
73rd
eng; [The Fighter]; die geschichte eines boxers auf dem weg zum weltmeistertitel, der sonst immer im schatten seines bruders stand.;
Rated 19 Jun 2012
80
79th
Much like his character in the ring, Mark Wahlberg is a slow starter in this with his normal crappy performance giving way to actual acting about an hour in. Up to that point you've got plenty though. Amy Adams is lovely and decent and lovely. Christian Bale is AMAZING, complete transformation to the character. Bit of a predictable story but it IS a true (ish) one so can't really complain.
Rated 07 Aug 2017
60
28th
The only good thing about this film is the Oscar-winning performance from Christian Bale
Rated 10 Oct 2012
80
74th
Like Rocky but with people who know how to talk with all of their mouth at once.
Rated 20 Jan 2011
77
77th
Common boxing film with a correct direction by Russell and an epic acting by Christian Bale. Melissa Leo was good too. The ending could be different, but it fit as well to the whole film. Of course, it is not better than Raging Bull, and definetely, not better than Rocky. AMY ADAMS, MARRY ME!
Rated 30 Mar 2011
70
79th
Strong turns from Leo and Adams, a great one from Bale and even a good one from Wahlberg. Really felt hastily wrapped up though, would have liked to see more on the three fights with Gatti, the fights that really made Ward a star.
Rated 18 Jun 2014
63
34th
Felt like a Marky Mark pet project. Took a while to move through the washed out grey back story and get to some unannounced boxing scenes. Bale cracks out pretty well, but fuck that scene where he sings in the car with his mother.
Rated 06 Jan 2011
62
15th
Apart from the amazing performances by the supporting cast, everything here is just too fucking mediocre for me to really get involved. Oh, of course, Wahlberg isn't mediocre, he's just plain awful.
Rated 05 Mar 2011
69
63rd
Like Rocky, without the same interest in the characters. Why does Mickey fight? The film doesn't seem to care about answering this. The relationships between Micky, Dicky and their mother seem to play a big role in Micky's, but again the film doesn't seem very interested in exploring this. (Again compare the relationships in Rocky). Still, it wasn't a bad film and the performances were solid. Is this best picture material. Absolutely not.
Rated 20 May 2011
90
93rd
The only major improvement that I could have suggested, was trying to find somebody who really knows how to choreograph boxing. Some of the in-ring scenes felt hollow, like there was no real story to them; boxing, like pro wrestling (but in a different context) is all about going in the ring and telling a story. The performances were, of course, award-winning and deservedly so, great atmosphere, and one thing I really noticed but not many others here are mentioning - what a bomb soundtrack!
Rated 26 Nov 2011
63
44th
Didn't really connect with this as much as I expected to, and I found the whole movie to be a bit too slow-paced. Still solid overall with great performances, but a tad overrated for me.
Rated 09 Dec 2011
69
48th
This isn't bad by any means but I never really follow Micky, never really invest in his struggle or triumph. I left feeling flat, rather than elated. Also, Bale's Oscar performance I see. Melissa Leo not so much.
Rated 22 Dec 2010
21
60th
Christian Bale is an insanely good actor which makes worry about what kind of person he is in real life.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
83
58th
Christian Bale is amazing and Mark Whalberg plays himself and doesn't really say much.
Rated 28 Mar 2011
60
15th
typical "feel good" movie.
Rated 13 Jun 2011
75
37th
A solid broken family drama with some boxing sewn in. Its main strength is the verbal conflict between the fiery characters, which is relentless, brutal and gripping. In fact the boxing matches look soft in comparison. Christian Bale owns the movie, Wahlberg does ok, but the end product is let down by a general predictability, some uninspired directing and ugly, inconsistent cinematography. A well-scripted conflict movie but far from being a classic in either the boxing or drama genres.

Collections

(66)
Compact view
Showing 1 - 24 of 66 results

Similar Titles

Loading ...

Statistics

Loading ...