The Fighter Study Notes · 2013-11-12 · Before viewing: the calibre of The Fighter The Fighter...
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Directed by: David O’Russell Certificate: 15 Running time: 116 mins Release date: 2 February 2011 Synopsis: Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is a boxer from the working class town of Lowell, Massachusetts. He is on the cusp of competing in the biggest fights of his career but is being held back by the conflicts within his family – his interfering mother (Melissa Leo) and his sisters, as well as his crack-addicted brother Dicky (Christian Bale), himself a former boxing champion. Spotting his potential, boxing promoters offer Micky the chance to train and compete professionally in Las Vegas. With his competitive destiny beckoning, Micky is split three ways and must choose between his new girlfriend (Amy Adams), his family and his own dreams. The Study Notes are designed for students of Media and Film Studies and related subjects at GCSE, AS/A2 level and equivalent. The Fighter Study Notes ©Paramount Pictures 1 ©Film Education July 2011. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external websites. www.filmeducation.org www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org
Transcript of The Fighter Study Notes · 2013-11-12 · Before viewing: the calibre of The Fighter The Fighter...
Directed by: DavidO’Russell
Certificate: 15
Running time: 116mins
Release date: 2February2011
Synopsis:Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is a boxer from the working class town of Lowell,Massachusetts.Heisonthecuspofcompetinginthebiggestfightsofhiscareerbutisbeingheldbackbytheconflictswithinhisfamily–hisinterferingmother(MelissaLeo)andhissisters,aswellashiscrack-addictedbrotherDicky(ChristianBale),himselfaformerboxingchampion.Spottinghispotential,boxingpromotersofferMicky thechance totrainandcompeteprofessionallyinLasVegas.Withhiscompetitivedestinybeckoning,Mickyissplitthreewaysandmustchoosebetweenhisnewgirlfriend(AmyAdams),hisfamilyandhisowndreams.
The Study Notes are designed for students of Media and Film Studies and related subjects at GCSE, AS/A2 level and equivalent.
The FighterStudy Notes
©ParamountPictures
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©Film Education July 2011. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external websites.
www.filmeducation.org www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org
Before viewing: the calibre of The FighterThe Fighterwascreatedbyawell-regardedteamoffilmmakersandactors.Itwashighlyanticipated,positively reviewedandOscarnominated insevencategories (awinner intwo).
z WhenhavedirectorDavidO’Russellandproducer-starMarkWahlbergworkedtogetherbefore?z MarkWahlbergtrainedeverydayforfouryearsfortheroleofMickyWardbeforehewasevencertainhehadthepart!FindoutaboutMarkWahlberg’supbringing,filmographyandtroubledadolescence.Doyouthinkthisactor issuitedtotherole?z WhatisfamousaboutChristianBale’sphysicalapproachtopreparingforarole?Findexamplesfromhispreviousfilms.z HowareO’RussellandactressMelissaLeoconnectedtotheworldofindependentfilmmaking?
After viewing: the representation of real- life people and places in film
The FighterwasfilmedinthetownofLowell,Massachusetts,USAwherealltheeventsdepictedinthefilmreallytookplace.Notonlythat,butalsothereal-lifecharactersandtheirhugeextendedfamilywerepresentonseteveryday.MarkWahlberghadapre-existingrelationshipwithMickyWardandhisfamilyandsomecharactersareactuallyplayedbythereal-lifecounter-parts.
z InwhatwaysmightyouexpectthisdecisiontoshootinthetownofLowelltoaddtotheauthenticityofthefilm?z Didseeingreal-lifefootageofthebrothers,withtitlecardsintroducingthem,addtoordetractfromtheimpactofthefilm?z Didyoufeelthefilmjudgesorexoneratesanyofthecharacters?
The influence of television and sport The Fighteracknowledgestheimpactthatsportscoveragecanhaveinafilm.Thefightscenes involvingMickywere shotby anHBO television crewandusedgraphics andtitles,giving thesequencesahigh-definitionsheenand the feelofa livepay-per-viewbroadcast.Thefightswereshot ‘live’ frombeginning toend likea realboxingmatch,whichmeantthecontestswereshotinaveryshortamountoftimeandthepuncheswereoftenreal.
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©Film Education July 2011. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external websites.
www.filmeducation.org www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org
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©Film Education July 2011. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external websites.
www.filmeducation.org www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org
z Howdothefightscenesstandalongsidethelookoftherestofthefilm?z Dothescenescreateasenseofverisimilitude(realism)?z Findfootageofotherboxingmoviefights.Howisfilmlanguageusedtocreateimpactandexcitement(accordingtolegend,thecameramanwasonroller-skatesduringthefightscenesinRaging Bull!)?
Depiction of drug abuseThe documentary being made about Dicky’s addiction to crack is in fact a realaward-winningfilmthatwasbroadcastonHBOcalledHigh on Crack Street: Lost Lives in Lowell.Findoutwhatyoucanaboutthisfilmonline–lookforreviews,footageandimagesfromthedocumentary.
z HowconvincingdidyoufindtheportrayalofDicky’saddictioninthefilm?z HoweffectivelydidyoufeeltheconsequencesofdrugaddictionwereaddressedinThe Fighter?
The Fighter: just another Rocky?The Fighter has the typical conventions of a sports biopic. Rocky is considered anarchetypal sports/boxing movie and was acknowledged as a key inspiration by thefilmmakers.Lookatthesuggestedconventionsofsportsbiopicslistedhere,thenanswerthequestionsbelow:
- theprotagonistcomesfromasocially,financiallyorphysicallydisadvantaged background- theprotagonistisconsideredanunderdog- atsomepointtheprotagonisthastochoosebetweenarelationship/commitment andtheirsport/destiny.Theymightloseeverything!- beforethefinalfight/contest,theprotagonistlosestheirnerveandhastobe convincedtocompete- afterthefinalmatch,theprotagonistwinsamoralvictorywhetherornothe/she actuallywinsthecontest
Questions:z HowcloselydoesThe Fighterfollowtheseconventions?z IsThe Fighter’snarrativepredictable?z Comparedtootherboxingmovies,whatUniqueSellingPointsdoesThe Fighterhavethatmakeitstandapart?
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©Film Education July 2011. Film Education is not responsible for the content of external websites.
www.filmeducation.org www.nationalschoolsfilmweek.org
Activity: Lookatsomeotherboxing(andonewrestling!)filmsortheirplotsynopses.Howdotheyconformtoordivergefromthenarrativeconventionsofsportsbiopics?
The Champ(1979) Raging Bull(1980)
The Hurricane(1999) Cinderella Man(2005)
When We Were Kings(1996) The Boxer(1997)
Million Dollar Baby(2004) Ali(2001)
Girlfight (2000) The Wrestler (2008)
Against the Ropes(2004) Rocky Balboa (2006)
Written by Gareth C Evans
