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THE FIGHTER (2010)Movie Reviews
Biographical sports drama about the early years of "Irish" Micky Ward, a junior welterweight professional boxer from Lowell, Massachusetts. Cast:Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa LeoDirector:David O. RussellRelease Date:December 10, 2010DVD Release:March 15, 2011From:ParamountRating:RLength:1 hr 55 min
The Fighter (2010) played to excellent reviews. • Joe Morgenstern wrote in the Wall Street Journal, "...a perfectly remarkable movie..." • And Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "Director David O. Russell has always excelled at finding new ways to use familiar actors, and every performance is noteworthy if not outstanding.... a rough-edged and proudly unpolished movie with a wealth of odd, funny details." More Reviews Below...
The Fighter (2010) Positive Reviews (51 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: OUTSTANDING(cg) "They all want Micky to win, but their constant drama just drags a brother down, even if it keeps the audience entranced and howling with laughter."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 201 words, 12/09/10
Mary Pols, Time: MODERATE "...we're asked to take on a larger redemption tale that undermines the truth... the film is overwhelmed by its urge to show us a Hollywood-style triumph."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 779 words, 12/10/10
David Germain, Associated Press: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a strange stew, a raw, genuine portrait of working-class stiffs one moment, a shrill-bordering-on-caricatured comedy of family discord and vulgar people the next."(See all of David Germain's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 884 words, 12/09/10
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a satisfying, emotionally rounded tale of pugilistic passion and family psychodrama... This one, as thoughtful as it is rousing, scores a TKO."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 537 words, 12/10/10
Claudia Puig, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Wahlberg is said to have spent half a decade duking it out to get 'The Fighter' made. Thank goodness for his tenacity.... one of the year's best films."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 462 words, 12/10/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Because we aren't deeply invested in Micky, we don't care as much as we should... the film ends on a note that should be triumph but feels more like simple conclusion."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 731 words, 12/16/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (14 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...quick on its feet and packs a mighty punch. With solid bodywork, clever feints and tremendous heart, it scores at least a TKO... I can't quite exclaim, 'It's a knockout!' "(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,439 words, 12/10/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...rousing... tries a number of risky maneuvers and manages to make them pay off in the end.... the inevitable classic finale is especially satisfying..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 859 words, 12/10/10
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: VERY GOOD "...suggests that a seedy, nasty milieu can knock you down but also pick you up and shove you back in the ring to keep punching. It's a rousing picture."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 626 words, 12/13/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Because we aren't deeply invested in Micky, we don't care as much as we should... the film ends on a note that should be triumph but feels more like simple conclusion."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 731 words, 12/16/10
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...a 'Rocky'-fied fairy tale for our time... plays out on the mean streets and in the dope dens of Clinton-era Lowell... settles into a predictably rutted narrative arc."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 747 words, 12/08/10
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Christian Bale runs away with one of the most memorable performances of 2010.... He's at once shocking, infuriating, pitiful, prideful and hilarious."(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 740 words, 12/17/10
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "Russell shoots the fight sequences without Scorsese's poetic flourishes but with something almost as good: a clear-eyed, no-nonsense, documentary panache."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 719 words, 12/17/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "There are no surprises and no twists; everything plays out exactly as you expect it will. It's comfort food. But it's awfully bland stuff."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 441 words, 12/16/10
KEY CITIES (16 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a tough, bare-knuckled, compassionate meditation on every family's rope-a-dope between tribal bonds and self-definition.... worth going to the mat for."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 572 words, 12/17/10
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...funny, ferocious, sad, sweet, pulpy, and violent. Sometimes, all in the same minute.... The family conflicts are as messy and intense as the slugfests in the ring."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 504 words, 12/17/10
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...entertaining from beginning to end and contains two brilliant and extreme supporting performances that are among the year's best."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 779 words, 12/17/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Acting for the silver screen doesn't get more raw, moving or accomplished... that rare film in which every performer in it leaves the viewer in awe."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 628 words, 12/17/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a great, gutsy boxing story... a casual masterpiece, an irresistibly enjoyable film that makes everything else in theaters feel like yesterday's news."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 586 words, 12/17/10
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...makes use of some terrific performances - Christian Bale is brilliant, as is Melissa Leo... Adams breaks out of the pretty-little-princess mold with a powerful performance."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 681 words, 12/17/10
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...triumphs by making the standard moves feel modern, by adding some grit to the family melodrama and carving out a sense of media savvy."(See all of Chris Vognar's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 572 words, 12/17/10
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a likable, lighthearted boxing flick that features several winning performances, chief among them: Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 455 words, 12/17/10
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...very compelling, as we watch this family imploding.... well-acted, to be sure, but less complex and less interesting than what's come before... 'Raging Bull' this isn't..."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 393 words, 12/17/10
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...if Bale doesn't get an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor, there's simply no justice. His performance is a marvel: impassioned, persuasive and raw."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 330 words, 12/17/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "All the emotional punches land solidly, to occasionally devastating effect, but at the conclusion you're not sure which competing cliche wins."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 539 words, 12/16/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...insanely rousing... has an electric, captivating power that has nothing to do with 'Rocky' clichés. The picture's secret weapon is Bale..."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 739 words, 12/17/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (8 Reviews)
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: MODERATE "...a 'Rocky'-fied fairy tale for our time... plays out on the mean streets and in the dope dens of Clinton-era Lowell... settles into a predictably rutted narrative arc."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 747 words, 12/08/10
Katey Rich, Cinema Blend: EXCELLENT(cg) "...the phenomenal performances and Russell's dogged interest in them make the film rousing, surprisingly funny, and even heartfelt too."(See all of Katey Rich's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 737 words, 12/10/10
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...triumphs exuberantly as a crowd-pleasing underdog fight flick. But it really connects as a horrible and hilarious deconstruction of family values gone nuclear."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 620 words, 12/09/10
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: WEAK(cg) "There are no surprises and no twists; everything plays out exactly as you expect it will. It's comfort food. But it's awfully bland stuff."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 441 words, 12/16/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: EXCELLENT(cg) "Russell cultivates a spontaneous vibe in the acting and rock soundtrack and explores the costs of drug addiction without delivering clichéd sermons."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 446 words, 12/17/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (7 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...a perfectly remarkable movie... Against all odds, 'The Fighter' snatches hope, and then elation, from the jaws of grinding defeat."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 638 words, 12/10/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...quick on its feet and packs a mighty punch. With solid bodywork, clever feints and tremendous heart, it scores at least a TKO... I can't quite exclaim, 'It's a knockout!' "(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,439 words, 12/10/10
Anthony Lane, New Yorker: WEAK "...the jitters in mood here suggest a director striving to keep control of bumpy material.... for all the dedication of its players, takes a heavy swing at us, and misses."(See all of Anthony Lane's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 958 words, 12/06/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...rousing... tries a number of risky maneuvers and manages to make them pay off in the end.... the inevitable classic finale is especially satisfying..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 859 words, 12/10/10
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...feels like kind of a mess, lurching from one scene to the next as if the film itself has taken a few hits to the head... that's not entirely a bad thing."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,010 words, 11/10/10
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "...rousing... tries a number of risky maneuvers and manages to make them pay off in the end.... the inevitable classic finale is especially satisfying..."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 859 words, 12/10/10
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a gritty, affectionately humorous, stirring comeback tale of an unlikely boxing hero... the film belongs to Melissa Leo and Christian Bale..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,209 words, 11/26/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...quick on its feet and packs a mighty punch. With solid bodywork, clever feints and tremendous heart, it scores at least a TKO... I can't quite exclaim, 'It's a knockout!' "(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,439 words, 12/10/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...a perfectly remarkable movie... Against all odds, 'The Fighter' snatches hope, and then elation, from the jaws of grinding defeat."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 638 words, 12/10/10
17.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Fighter (2010)'s reviews are separated by an average 17.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Fighter (2010) (51 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Fighter (2010)'s reviews cover 99.7% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 34,261 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 672 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 8.1 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Fighter (2010)'s reviews on average broke 8.1 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Fighter (2010)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Fighter (2010) (51 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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