Another underdog sports story inspired by a true events. Think Rocky, Rudy, or Invincible (which also starred Mark Wahlberg). Sure it's uplifting and stirring, but also predictable and formulaic; however, the plot does serve up three supporting role nominees:
- Christian Bale as Dickie Eklund, a crack-addicted, has-been boxer who once knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard. I enjoyed the scene where he finally comes to grip with fact that HBO is making a documentary about his drug use and not his "come back."
- Amy Adams as Micky's girlfriend and number one supporter, Charlene. I love the scene on her front porch where she threatens Micky's sister and then follows through by taking her down.
- Melissa Leo as Alice, Micky's chain-smoking mother/manager. She's more concerned about the next paycheck and her older son Dickie than Micky's career as a boxer.
All three deliver spot-on performances. For the actors supporting role Oscar, I think John Hawkes delivers the win for Winter's Bone. But in the actress category, the two top performances from my perspective are the crazy mothers: Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom and Leo. Overall, The Fighter ranks below the animated films on my list of 25 movies pushing The Kid Are All Right down another spot.
RANKING of OSCAR 2011 MUST-SEES (so far):
- True Grit
- Winter's Bone
- Black Swan
- The Town
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Inception
- Toy Story 3
- How to Train Your Dragon
- The Fighter
- The Kids Are All Right
- Animal Kingdom
- Alice in Wonderland