Bale brilliantly captures a man who was pysically and mentally destroyed by drug abuse.
Director: David O. Russell
Writers: Scott Silver (screenplay) Paul Tamasy (screenplay) Eric Johnson (screenplay)
Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo
In a film based on true events, Mark Wahlberg plays Micky Ward, a stepping-stone boxer coached by his drug-addicted half-brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), himself a former boxer , and managed by his overbearing mother Alice (Melissa Leo). Micky wants to make something of himself but continually finds himself let down and mismanaged by his family, but his life starts to change after meeting Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams) a local, straight-talking bartender, who causes a rift in the family.
To all intents this was really Christian Bale’s film. His portrayal of a trembling, slurring coke-addict was so convincing that it gave the film a gritty, documentary-style realism. It was one of those special performances in a supporting role that not only steals the film, but also makes the performances of his fellow cast seem better. In truth Mark Wahlberg only average in this film, he looked the part and did a good enough job. Amy Adams and Melissa Leo gave very good performances, but in considerably easier roles to act. They were both Oscar nominated, of course, with Leo winning in what was (to be a little harsh) an easy year for Supporting Actress, but, for me, Bale’s performance would’ve won Best Supporting Actor in any of the past ten years, facing stiff opposition from Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men in 2007. We know from the Machinist that Bale gives everything in preparation for a role and he lost weight for this one too, he looks and acts every bit the ravaged junkie; I’m out of hyperbole, it was special.
I feel I have been a little unkind to Mark Wahlberg, but his real triumph was in the role he played off the screen in getting this film made. It was his project and always came with him attached, but he gave everything for this film in production and in years of gruelling training and he even waived his fee to make it happen. Well done, Marky.
No comments:
Post a Comment