Tag Archives: The Fighter

The Filmsmith’s Best of 2010

One first reaction to a “Best of” list toward the end of January 2011 might be confusion:  “Why didn’t you write this up at the end of the year like everyone else?”  The major reason is that quite a few notable films of the year didn’t become available until recently.  I had to take a trip to Chicago to see several of these titles, some of which my colleagues still have yet to see.

Now that The Filmsmith is a publication with voices beyond my own, we decided to each draw up our Top Tens of 2010 and wherever there was crossover, lump those together.  Therefore, this is The Filmsmith’s Best of 2010 (individual staff lists will be released tomorrow). Continue reading

This American Life episode The Fighter’s equivalent

This week, David O. Russell’s The Fighter was released.  Mark Wahlberg is an underdog boxer who is frequently referred to as a “stepping stone,” a low-level guy pitted against a better fighter.  The “stepping stone” makes some money and his competitor builds up his rank in the boxing world.  This American Life did an episode on just these types of boxers, called “opponents.”

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The Fighter a bruiser to watch

David O. Russell launched into the film world with his notable war/drama/comedy Three Kings, did the existential comedy I Heart Huckabess after that, and has now come out with a boxing picture, The Fighter.  The pieces don’t look like they’d fit together, but Russell’s sense of comedy and drama blends well with a cast that can do it justice. Continue reading

15 Films of Christmas (December Movie Preview)

In order for a film to qualify for the Academy Awards, it must be released theatrically before December 31st of a given year.  So December is when the drama train comes through after the pipe bomb explosion of summer blockbusters.  This year in particular, there is a lot to look forward to.

:note: Films listed as limited are those being released in New York City, L.A., and possibly Chicago.  This allows the film to receive exposure in the major markets and if it does well, get rolled out to other cities. Continue reading