Film Analysis: The Fighter
If you read my review of The Fighter then you will knock that I wasn’t knocked out by the boxing biopic. I enjoyed the film and felt the acting was fantastic, however its predictability and clichéd nature of the story as well as the lack of a truly memorable leading performance as well some subplots that go nowhere and a climax that was a bit to neat and tidy meant that it was far from being the Oscar contender heavy hitter that people viewed it as in my eyes. However there was on element of the film that drew me back in for a second viewing and the element I will write about in this film analysis…the performance of Christian Bale.
Christian Bale’s performance is what The Fighter will be remembered for. As I stated in my review he is a sheer force of nature in that film and dominates every scene he is in, providing the film with its most humorous, dramatic and engaging moments. This film analysis will look at the character of Dickey based on his portrayal, not the real life figure. Dickey is the most complex and interesting character in The Fighter and there a few particular scenes that stand out.
“ But I want to watch daddy on the T.V”
At the start of the film Dickey is being followed by a HBO camera crew, with him believing their intention is to make a film documenting his comeback. It is later revealed that it is actually a documentary about crack addiction and how Dickeys potential in life has been sacrificed to drug addiction. That scene is so powerful for multiple reasons and is perhaps the stand out moment of the film. The scene is preceded by Dickey being sent to jail where he receives a hero’s welcome and much like on the streets of his hometown he is adored and loving every minute of it. As the documentary starts to play everybody starts to realize that what they are watching is less than flattering about a man they have been idolizing. As we see the expression on Dickeys face change gradually into one of anger and sadness we are witnessing the false respect this man once had crumble. The scene is given extra power and poignancy when we see Dickeys young son walk down the stairs stating how he wants to see his daddy on the T.V as a tearful mother to Dickey ushers him away.
The false hero worship of Dickey is represented in another subtle yet powerful moment in the film. When getting out of jail Dickey is ready to change who he is in order to help his brother succeed. When Dickey hears the news that he will no longer be training his brother he starts to beat the lockers out of anger, we then see his son get up and copy his exact treatment of the lockers. Two subtle moments involving his son, say so much about the character and so much about a man who has been surrounded by people who falsely idolize him. False hero worship is a big theme of this film and is best represented through the character of Dickey. The film is also a cautionary tale of what addiction can do to people…at least it should have been. I will try to not stray into review territory here but as I stated in my review we are not given enough screen time of Dickey battling his addiction. However the fact that this plot strand still comes through as powerful as it does is a big testament to the performance of Christian Bale.
The film also, like many films this year shows achievement at a cost, which again is represented through Dickey. He achieved his dream of being a pro boxer and even knocking out Sugar Ray Leonard (a fact that is frequently disputed throughout the film) however as he remarks in the film, it was all too much to soon and he ends up giving in to his inner demons and inner temptations.
Overall on a second viewing of The Fighter, the character of Dickey remains the most fascinating character and a variety of themes and conflicts circle around him. False hero worship, achievement at a cost, battling addiction and fighting temptation are all aspects of the films plot that circle Dickey, all the most interesting elements of the plot.
If you have seen The Fighter then please comment in the your say section with your thoughts of the film and also your thoughts on Dickey and the themes and conflicts I have written about.
Christian Bale’s performance is what The Fighter will be remembered for. As I stated in my review he is a sheer force of nature in that film and dominates every scene he is in, providing the film with its most humorous, dramatic and engaging moments. This film analysis will look at the character of Dickey based on his portrayal, not the real life figure. Dickey is the most complex and interesting character in The Fighter and there a few particular scenes that stand out.
“ But I want to watch daddy on the T.V”
At the start of the film Dickey is being followed by a HBO camera crew, with him believing their intention is to make a film documenting his comeback. It is later revealed that it is actually a documentary about crack addiction and how Dickeys potential in life has been sacrificed to drug addiction. That scene is so powerful for multiple reasons and is perhaps the stand out moment of the film. The scene is preceded by Dickey being sent to jail where he receives a hero’s welcome and much like on the streets of his hometown he is adored and loving every minute of it. As the documentary starts to play everybody starts to realize that what they are watching is less than flattering about a man they have been idolizing. As we see the expression on Dickeys face change gradually into one of anger and sadness we are witnessing the false respect this man once had crumble. The scene is given extra power and poignancy when we see Dickeys young son walk down the stairs stating how he wants to see his daddy on the T.V as a tearful mother to Dickey ushers him away.
The false hero worship of Dickey is represented in another subtle yet powerful moment in the film. When getting out of jail Dickey is ready to change who he is in order to help his brother succeed. When Dickey hears the news that he will no longer be training his brother he starts to beat the lockers out of anger, we then see his son get up and copy his exact treatment of the lockers. Two subtle moments involving his son, say so much about the character and so much about a man who has been surrounded by people who falsely idolize him. False hero worship is a big theme of this film and is best represented through the character of Dickey. The film is also a cautionary tale of what addiction can do to people…at least it should have been. I will try to not stray into review territory here but as I stated in my review we are not given enough screen time of Dickey battling his addiction. However the fact that this plot strand still comes through as powerful as it does is a big testament to the performance of Christian Bale.
The film also, like many films this year shows achievement at a cost, which again is represented through Dickey. He achieved his dream of being a pro boxer and even knocking out Sugar Ray Leonard (a fact that is frequently disputed throughout the film) however as he remarks in the film, it was all too much to soon and he ends up giving in to his inner demons and inner temptations.
Overall on a second viewing of The Fighter, the character of Dickey remains the most fascinating character and a variety of themes and conflicts circle around him. False hero worship, achievement at a cost, battling addiction and fighting temptation are all aspects of the films plot that circle Dickey, all the most interesting elements of the plot.
If you have seen The Fighter then please comment in the your say section with your thoughts of the film and also your thoughts on Dickey and the themes and conflicts I have written about.