Micky Ward film "The Fighter" is back on
by Scott Christ on Apr 21, 2009 6:48 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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Source: Variety
The long-rumored and long-delayed Micky Ward film The Fighter is back on, and according to IMDB is scheduled for a 2011 release. Mark Wahlberg (who has headed the project for a couple years now) will play Ward, and Christian Bale is now on deck to play Ward's half-brother, fighter Dicky Eklund, whose story is even more compelling than Micky's in a lot of ways. David O. Russell will direct.
I've been really hoping this actually gets made ever since Wahlberg first seemed really serious about it. It's obviously a passion project for him (Wahlberg is a Boston native and a huge fight fan) and it's the type of story that can really sell boxing as something that didn't apparently die when Mike Tyson went to prison. Believe it or not there are still great, inspiring stories all over the sport. Ward was sort of a real-life Rocky. I mean who the hell was Micky Ward? And then all of a sudden there he is, putting on these great fights and clawing his way to the top.
Bale seems a better choice to play Eklund than Matt Damon did, but Bale v. Brad Pitt (who was set to replace Damon) seems like a push. I wish Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler) was still going to direct, too, but alas...
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Great news.
Althugh I don’t know how Bale versus Brad Pitt is a push. Pitt plays only himself in movies, for the most part, while Bale loses himself in the role.
However, I did hear the Batman voice in the Terminator Salvation trailer.
Pitt has been very good in many movies, recently Burn After Reading. Bale might “lose himself” in his roles but the only time I’ve ever liked him more than just not really caring much about him was in 3:10 to Yuma.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 21, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess he was good, but that movie had no hope with me.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 21, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone else think the Batman movies Bale is in are really overated?
I saw the Dark Knight on a IMAX screen, ended up with a sore neck and backside and felt at the end is that it?
Give me Micheal Keaton any day. Sean Connery of the Batmans.
"But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters"-Luke Skywalker
actually, no
Well, Batman Begins maybe, but The Dark Knight was epic.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 22, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
i loathe tim burton
so no.
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Apr 22, 2009 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Pfffft guys. Adam West would take Bales Batman
"But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters"-Luke Skywalker
The writer of the first Batman movie is a financial genius
He invented the term “shark repellent”.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
"Bat" Shark-Repellent
I haven’t seen the show in years, but I remember Caesar Romero’s version of the Joker really well. All those guys looked like they had a lot of fun on that show. Burgess Meredith as The Penguin was a damned stroke of genius. Wahh, wahh, waaahhh…
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
I’m with you. Michael Keaton was the best Batman, Jack Nicholson was the best joker. I thought the most recent batman flick was good at the start and brutally boring through the finish. I was hoping Batman would lose by the end of this recent one
Jack Nicholson was the best joker.
Oh dear God you’re high on narcotics.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 23, 2009 4:18 AM EDT up reply actions
not for a while
who’s yours? the dead guy? The dead guy sucked, over-acted, melo-dramatic cry-baby drawn out bullshit. By the end of that movie I was hoping the OD happened earlier. That movie blows. Who are the other jokers besides the dead guy and Jack?
The scene where Jack pulls out the super long pistol and shoots down the bat plane was great. There’s not one scene in any other batman movie that compares to that. Put that in one of your little little black rectangles.
Actually
My favorite scene from that movie was the one where Nicholson gathers together all the other hoods in town, and then barbeques one with a joybuzzer. The was a classic.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
your opinion on this matter is just awful
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 25, 2009 3:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Pitt was pretty awesome in Twelve Monkeys
I flipped past “Kalifornia” last night, in which Pitt played a psycho-hillbilly sort of guy. It was a bad movie, but he was pretty unrecognizable in it. Same in Snatch, which was a decent British flick where he played an Irish Gypsy. He actually does a decent brogue (it was good in “The Devil’s Own” too, although that movie wasn’t so hot). I know Dicky didn’t have a “brogue” but I’m just saying the guy has done a few decent accents over the years.
Actually Bale is starting to feel like a pain in the ass to me. He seems to be in every summer blockbuster type movie these guys, but I don’t think he’s a very good action hero type. I like him better in weider movies like “American Pyscho” and “The Machinist.” The The Machinist was actually one of the creepier movies I’ve seen in a while. He boiled down to something like ninety pounds for that movie, which is pretty freakish when you think he played “Batman” right afterwards.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
well every one has their preferences, but he was great in Twelve Monkeys. Paul Newman owns them both.
More people should watch the Hustler.
Sorry for the Newman plug.
you know what Newman was great in?
Road to Perdition. That movie got no love. It’s incredible.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 21, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Hud owns all other Newman performances
OK, I can’t really say that since I’ve only seen 5 or so of his movies, but still…
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Newman’s filmography is pretty outstanding. I still don’t know how he only has one oscar
by missmanners on Apr 21, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought he had a second for supporting actor
Maybe for Nobody’s Fool? Can’t remember which…
Vogt early, Vogt often.
One of my favorite books: ‘Horseman, Pass by’. Didn’t really like the movie. Couldn’t get over the cook being white in the movie, didn’t make sense to me. And, the character Hud in the movie actually seems more clean-cut, regular guy than Hud in the book. Hud in the book is torn in half between being a wild-ass mess and being a ‘man’.
Absolutely.
I loved every scene he was in. I especially liked when he was shooting dice with the kid. Great movie, great actor.
"They took my thumbs, Charlie!"
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
YES!!!!!
and George C. Scott is outstanding as Bert Gordan
by missmanners on Apr 21, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions
butch cassidy and the sundance kid will always be my top newman flick
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Apr 22, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions
I’ve always kind of half-agreed with Ebert’s original review there. It’s SO long and drawn-out and doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. The acting is excellent though.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 22, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions
plus the bicycle scene
Come ON already.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 22, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Disagree
I Heart Huckabee’s was brilliant.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Apr 22, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm not saying it wasn't smart
but it was 100% film as art and 0% film as entertainment.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Admittedly, not an edge-of-your-seat thriller
But some of the dialogue, especially between Wahlberg and Schwartzman, is pretty fucking funny. Hoffman and Lily Tomlin also some hilarious moments.
Mancala Hour alone was worth the price of admission.
“That’s nihilism, Tommy!”
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Apr 22, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
You know, I’ve still never watched that. It’s in my house because my fiancee owns it but I’ve always been turned off by half of the reviews. I think I’ll get around to it sometime.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 22, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Ice loves that flick
I can’t get down with it. The jokes just aren’t that funny to me, and its one of those “concept” movies where if you aren’t down with the central premise, its just going to be a headache to watch.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
It it was a book, it would be The Stranger
If existentialism isn’t your thing, or if you don’t find humor in philosophical arguments, it’s probably not worth the time. Similar concept was done about a million times better in Being John Malkovich.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
Well Wahlberg is a huge fan. I have no idea about Bale.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 21, 2009 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
this is great news. i was watching gatti-ward I (my favorite fight) during class, and couldn’t help to miss both of those guys.
as for pitt vs bale vs classic actors, two words : James Stewart
The Dude Abides
by battle axe of doom on Apr 21, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions
Between the two...
Bale does seem to “lose” himself in roles more, but it doesn’t feel like it so much lately, and I think that’s because he’s a) been doing these big blockbusters, and b) he’s gotten himself in some controversy and into the tabloids, so while some might say that he’s more of a “character actor” than Pitt, who is a “movie star,” I think that’s changing some.
As for Pitt, I was never a huge fan of his acting chops. He ain’t bad though. Someone mentioned Kalifornia, and he was really good in that. Not bad in Seven either, and a real treat in Snatch. Awful as Achilles though. Haters tend to bash a little too much, while fans can be …fans. His career isn’t that different from Newman’s, in my opinion — both capable actors who have had difficulty getting audiences to see past their looks.
Know who actually has a bit of boxing experience from the new Batman films? Gary Oldman. I’ve met him. Great guy.
Gary Oldman improves most movies
He’s part of that random collection of British character actors who just always seem to be good in everything but usually don’t get much recognition, probably because they’re completely unrecognizable in a number of their roles – Oldman, Tom Wilkerson, Alan Rickman, Tim Roth, Robert Carlyle, etc. Oldman’s a hell of a chameleon though.
Vogt early, Vogt often.
That's a great way to put it
Oldman is like the British Gene Hackman to me. He makes a movie better by being in it. C’s become B’s, B’s become A’s, etc.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
Hell yeah, he does
I’ve been a fan of his since “The Professional,” or “Leon.” I’ve yet to see “The Firm” and “Sid and Nancy.” He’s a true craftsman. Once in a while he’ll do a Pay-the-bills-flick, but I recognize them as such and rarely hold those against him.
Tim Roth is great too. He was amazing as the villain in “Rob Roy” with Liam Neeson.
Sid and Nancy is really, really good. One of those movies that probably gets “overrated” by people that are crazy about that sort of thing (teenagers, alleged “punk rockers”), but it’s a fantastic movie.
"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler
by Scott Christ on Apr 23, 2009 4:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep!
Gonna put it on my Netflix que post haste.
Watched the Hustler some months ago. Had NO idea, Jake Lamotta was in that. Great surprise!
Who would win a streetfight, Jake LaMotta or Roberto Duran? I recall Duran saying he’d kick Ali’s ass in a streetfight. Precious. I’m inclined to believe him too.
Great News
Love Russell as a director.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Apr 22, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions
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