SYNOPSIS:
Academy Award® Nominees Mark Wahlberg (The Departed), Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) and Amy Adams (Doubt) star in this “remarkable†” film. Based on a true story, two brothers, against all the odds, come together to train for a historic title bout that has the power to reunite their fractured family and give their hard-luck town what it's been waiting for: pride. Micky Ward (Wahlberg) is a struggling boxer long overshadowed by his older brother and trainer, Dicky (Bale), a local legend battling his own demons. Their explosive relationship threatens to take them both down - but the bond of blood may be their only chance for redemption.
MOVIE REVIEW:
The 83rd Academy Awards are over (hands up, those who thought host James Franco had a “I’m too smart for this” smirk throughout the award presentation ceremony), and this David O Russell movie made stars Christian Bale and Melissa Leo recipients of the Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress categories. Yes, they are deserving winners, but one person we feel was left out of the limelight is the movie’s leading man Mark Whalberg, who also took on the producer role for this biographical sports drama movie.
The film’s protagonist is professional boxer Micky Ward, who has a almost good for nothing older half brother Dicky Eklund. Born in what we may call a dysfunctional family, Micky’s life isn’t one that we are envious of: Overshadowed by his drug addict brother, his only role in the boxing arena is to be a “stepping stone” for other boxers to defeat on their way up. It doesn’t help that he has a fiery tempered mother who manages his career, and a whole gang of sisters who can’t seem to keep quiet. Based on the true story of the boxer before his went professional in the mid 1980s, this is a tale, in our humble opinions, meant to inspire the spoilt young brats of our generation.
Let’s talk about the Oscar winners first. Bale clearly had it in his pockets when he took on the very showy role of Dicky. The character is a former boxer whose peak of success is long gone, and besides being addicted to crack cocaine, he has evidently fallen apart. The Dark Knight managed to lose a lot of weight and sport a balding patch to portray this real life character – the result is, of course, a success. Leo also has her role of Alice Ward, mother to nine children, to thank for her win. Her vivacious and blistering portrayal of the suburban mother is attention grabbing, and is possibly the sort of character which will impress the Academy.
And that leaves us with Wahlberg, who puts in what we may consider the best performance of his career yet. Although not as loud mouthed or ostentatious as his co stars, he manages to have us seated throughout the film’s 111 minutes to root for the champion in Micky. His undaunted and unwavering spirit is one that has us wanting to do something about our own lives, and to live a fulfilled life without regrets. His fine performance is complemented a fine ensemble cast which includes Amy Adams as his girlfriend and Jack McGee as his father.
This is a predictable story of overcoming the odds to realising your dreams, but it is also an engaging one which will have your eyes glued to the screen till the real life Micky and Dicky appear on screen during the end credits to remind you that dreams do come true if you fight for them.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
There is nothing to complain about the movie's visual transfer, and is presented in its original English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 2.0.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted
on 9 April 2011
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