Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Fighter

This is topic The Fighter in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 12-20-2010, 01:14 AM:

***

This movie had a really well cut trailer that made me want to see the movie. Also, with 6 Golden Globe Nominations, it pretty much sealed the deal for my interest.

The movie is good, but it is not great. Christian Bale is good but his role actually is kind of distracting, he kind of overacted the role. Mark Walhberg is ok but is too much like other characters he plays.

The real standout in this movie is Amy Adams, I thought she was outstanding. Melissa Leo and Jack McGee stood out as well.

The movie has its funny moments as well, the sisters not getting along with Adams, the father driving his truck up to the house and then realizing he needs to get the hell out of there got some big laughs from the crowd.

The movie has a documentary feel to it and has a gritty look . The fighting between family is more important in this movie than the fighting in the ring. Overall, I do give it three stars as I always like real stories about people/problems/family issues etc. Slice of life of movies are always great.

On a side note, the audience I was with loved the film as they applauded during the credits. A movie like this shows that sometime critics don't understand audiences. I think word of mouth will be better than average.

Shown at the AMC 24 on 35mm film
Sound was SDDS.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-20-2010, 01:21 AM:

quote:
Christian Bale ... kind of overacted the role.

He TOTALLY overacted in this.

The characters in this movie all look like white trash. White trash cannot be interesting. Also, why are the fights shot on standard definition video?

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 12-20-2010, 02:09 AM:

Has Christian Bale NOT overacted in anything he did after Empire of the Sun?

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 12-20-2010, 04:00 AM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Also, why are the fights shot on standard definition video?

The fight scenes were filmed that way on purpose, they are supposed to give the impression that you are watching the fights from a "fan" or "tv" or "living room" POV, kind of detached and not "in the ring". Having the fight scenes filmed that way make you focus on the family issues and the drama behind the scenes, not the boxing.

I actually thought they were filming the television set which was playing the actual fight.

The fights scenes are not like Rocky or Million Dollar Baby, and in The Fighter, the way they filmed it actually worked.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-20-2010, 05:46 AM:

Actually all the fight scenes were filmed by the crew that does HBO Fight Night, so they would look like they would if it was a real fight on HBO. So you are half correct Tom, but it had nothing to do with taking the focus off of the fights. This was a good film, but not as good as it could of been. Its sad, this could of been Bales year to win an Oscar. Thats not going to happen though. Good supporting actors, the leads just missed it.

2.5/5 [thumbsup]

I'm really sad that O'Russell and Walhberg are doing the Uncharted movie together. Had huge hopes of that being a good movie, not so much anymore. Just bad choices on both parts.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-20-2010, 05:58 AM:

The fight scenes certainly don't SOUND like they would on HBO, with subwoofer-enhanced sounds every time a boxer makes contact.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-20-2010, 06:59 AM:

can you imagine if the sound mix was like HBO, all the "in the know" customers would come running to the lobby to tell us, "Your speakers ain't working right or something, don't sound right" Customer Service person "Oh I'm sorry, thats the way the movies supposed to sound" Customer "No it ain't, ain't what it sounded like before, go on and fix it now."

Yea, that would be fun....

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-20-2010, 03:25 PM:

Usually when I walk by this one playing and there is a fight scene going, it is just Marky Mark blocking the other guy's punches. But one time, Marky Mark actually managed to throw a punch of his own and then block a couple of the other guy's swings. Marky Mark couldn't have looked happier. He threw his arms up in the air as if to say "I finally hit someone in a boxing match. Who is the badass now?!!"

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-20-2010, 06:39 PM:

Personally, after seeing the credits show the real guy that Bale was playing, I thought he did a pretty accurate portrayal of the guy's voice, mannerisms, and such.

Posted by Jim Bedford (Member # 4) on 12-22-2010, 06:12 PM:

quote: Joe Redifer
Marky Mark

So last Century.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 12-22-2010, 06:38 PM:

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch 4eva!