There’s a big difference between going to a movie that eventually gets an Oscar nomination and going to one that’s already been nominated. That key difference is expectation.
Personally, I was able to go into “Inception,” “Toy Story 3” and “True Grit” without the added pressure of knowing these had already been deemed as the best movies of the year. Despite the hype of these films, and their eventual mass popularity, I had a feeling of discovery: a feeling I was watching history unfold, instead of reading about it later.
That feeling can easily work to a movie’s benefit. If I watched “Inception” now, after seeing it on the Best Picture nomination list, I might be a bit more critical of its plot holes. But by seeing it on its opening weekend, with only the few expectations created by the trailer, cast and director, it was easy to help lead the bandwagon others would later jump onto.
But the more expectations you have, the harder it is for a movie to live up to them.
Yet in the case of “The Fighter,” expectations are mere speed bumps.
“The Fighter” easily earns its place among the Best Picture nominees. Christian Bale and Amy Adams display incredible range from their normal pigeonholed roles (dark troubled man and romantic comedy eye candy, respectively). I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the two of them swept the Oscars’ supporting role categories (though for my money, I still think “True Grit’s” Hailee Steinfeld is the favorite for Best Supporting Actress.)
Despite coming up empty on a lead actor nomination, Mark Wahlberg turns in a solid performance, one of the better he’s ever done. He’s still the weak link of the cast, but the improvement is undeniable.
But great performances can only take a movie so far. Thankfully, “The Fighter” delivers in other areas too. The script is fantastic, never once feeling forced unlike every other film about boxing I’ve seen (which, for reference, boils down to “Rocky” movies one through four).
Also unlike “Rocky” are the fights themselves. Each is wonderfully choreographed and feels more like watching a real boxing match than Stallone was ever able to accomplish. There were times when I caught myself tensing up when a big punch landed — quite telling in and of itself.
“The Fighter” does an excellent job of bringing you into its world and keeping you there, only faltering once during a training montage set to The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Strip My Mind,” which clashes terribly with the rest of the film’s pretty consistent soundtrack (mind you, by “consistent” I mean things that sound like Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again”) It’s a small gripe, but one that stuck with me through the entire show.
Expectations can put undo pressure on a film to deliver, but they can also give context. “The Fighter” is a movie that deserves your respect, and knowing its value ahead of time only helps to put you in the right mindset for viewing it.
