The Fighter 2010 is the story of Dickie Eklund (Christian Bale), a former boxing hero that squandered his talents and threw away his shot at greatness.
Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), his half brother, is the struggling journeyman boxer who spent his life living in his big brother’s shadow.
The fighter is inspired by the true story of two brothers who, against all the ods, come together to train for a historic title bout that will unite their fractured family, redeem their pasts and, at last, give their hard-luck town what it’s been waiting for: pride. The story unfolds on the gritty, blue-collar streets of Lowell, Massachusetts, where Dicky was once known as “The Pride of Lowell” having gone the distance with the world champion Sugar Ray Leonard. However, after losing that fight, like the town of Lowell, Dick’s fallen on hard times. His boxing days are behind him and his life has become shattered by drug abuse.
Younger brother Micky, meanwhile, has become the family’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But despite all of his work, Mickey’s career is failing and he loses fight after punishing fight. Dicky and Micky’s tougher-than-nails mother, Alice (Melissa Leo), manages his career and Dicky serves as his highly unreliable trainer. When Micky’s lastest fight nearly kills him, it looks like it could all be over – until his iron-willed new girlfriend, Charlene (Amy Adams), convinces him to do the unthinkable: split with his family, pursue his own interests and train without his increasingly volatile and criminal brother.
Now Mickey has the chance of a lifetime as he earns a shot a the world championship. But when his brother and dysfunctional family reenter his life, they must all reconcile their pasts and become more than just a family in name. With Micky and Dicky reunited, this becomes more tha just a fight – it’s and all-out comeback for these brothers, their family and their city. When it’s over, Micky will have become a champion, a hometown legend, and the new “Pride of Lowell”.
The fighter is a moving and often humouous drama about fighting for the people you love.
The fighter stars Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Dendrie Taylor, Jack McGee, Jenna Lamia, Salvatore Santone, Chanty Sok and is directed by David O. Russell.
