Fighting For A Cause

The landmark, HBO-produced fight at Caesar’s Palace in 2003 is worth watching: it was the third and final bout between ‘Irish’ Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti. This trilogy of fights may have led to the WBU champion, Ward establishing a presence strong enough to lead to this biographic film, The Fighter. It is equivalent to Raging Bull, a 1980 biopic about Jake LaMotta  (played by Robert De Niro), although there is more authentic and accurate fight choreography drawn from actual video footage.

Academy Award® Nominees: a completely convincing Mark Wahlberg (The Departed), a marathon-gaunt and chemically-crazed Christian Bale (The Dark Knight) and the believably tough Amy Adams (Doubt) star in this highly watchable film. Based on a true story, two brothers from Lowell, Massachusetts, defy the odds, reunite to train for a historic title bout that reunited their fractured family and give their hard-luck town what it's been waiting for: a sense of pride. Micky Ward (Wahlberg) is a struggling boxer long overshadowed by his cantankerous however medicated, older brother and trainer, Dicky Eklund (Bale), a local legend battling his own demons. Their explosive relationship threatens to take them both down – for the count – but blood ties may be their only chance for redemptive qualities of a flagging pugilistic career.

Sugar Ray Leonard has a cameo as a commentator at a fight; in fact, the real-life Dicky once dropped Sugar Ray at a bout, although it was considered a freak tripping accident. Despite his talent in the ring, though, Micky can't catch a break until he meets Charlene (Amy Adams), a chilli-hot bartender who encourages him to stand up for himself. When Dicky is sent to prison, and Micky takes on a more experienced manager, his fortunes start to improve. However, it isn't in his nature to abandon the people who raised him, so he attempts to unite the various factions in his life before his shot at the world championship slips away.

I watched the film onboard two flights. Incidentally I also caught the documentary of Ward’s third and last fight with Gatti. In true sportsmanship, both fighters congratulated and acknowledged each other for a tough and exciting fight. When a fighter retires, it would be best to see him go full circle and fight his best fight (akin to Rocky Balboa, aka Rocky 6). Both Ward and Gatti had to be hospitalized for the physical injuries incurred during this Fight of The Year (2003). I strongly recommend this film that was nominated for seven Oscars; the Best Supporting Actor award went to Bale. Melissa Leo who plays the mother bagged the Best Supporting Actress award.

*****

When you are down for the count, what goes through your mind? Who is really on your team when you face your adversaries? How much do you value your loyal supporters? Which is the cause that you strongly fight for?