A bit of Rocky, a bit of The Wrestler. And Christian Bale once again starving himself for a role. Can that be healthy? In any case, it’s the first trailer for the much-hyped The Fighter.
The Fighter tells the story of Boston fighter “Irish” Mickey Ward (Mark Wahlberg) and how he was helped to the world lightweight championship by half-brother Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale). Eklund once decked Sugar Ray Leonard and went the distance against the boxing legend before forfeiting his career to drugs and crime. He redeemed himself by training Ward through his Rocky-like run to the title.
Oscar buzz is already starting, and frankly it looks like it might be warranted.
The Fighter is directed by David O. Russell (Three Kings) and opens December 10, 2o10