You are wrong to avoid watching "The Fighter" if you worry it's just another "Rocky Balboa" punch out flick. "The Fighter" is less about boxing and more about people, and extremely dysfunctional people. I do realize that unhealthy families exist, but this film defines dysfunctional in an all but too stark reality. Crackhead brother Dicky Eklund, played by Christian Bale, makes one believe it's impossible for anything good to come out of such a dismal beginning, and then pulls off a miracle. Bale gets my Oscar vote for best supporting actor because he almost steals the film.
Among other theological threads:
Redemption: Crackhead Dicky mistreats his brother and ends up in prison. A television documentary about Dicky's life as a drug abuser breaks through his denial. While boxer Micky Ward (Mark Wahlburg) fights to redeem his boxing career in the ring, Dicky fights to overcome addiction in prison. This process begins and ends with prayer, though it's not called prayer in the movie. Instead, there are a couple of quick and silent shots when Dicky, hands clasped together, is obviously calling on a higher power for help.
Reconciliation: How this incredibly dysfunctional family, despised girlfriend, and estranged hangers on are able to put aside their broken past and come together for the good of Micky Ward and his run for a title is nothing but God's Grace.
Did you see any other theological threads in this movie? What are some of your favorite movie scenes that have theological threads?
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