#16. THE FIGHTER (DAVID O. RUSSELL, 2010)
#16. THE FIGHTER (DAVID O. RUSSELL, 2010)Mark Wahlberg is already a big guy, but when he stands next to Christian Bale, playing skinny crack addict Dicky Eklund, he looks like a titan. And since this film is all about punching another guy in the face with speed and strength – The Fighter gets a place on our list.
Wahlberg plays Micky Ward and explores the early years of the real life boxer and his brother, Dicky, who helped train him before going pro in the 1980s. It’s full of stand out performances and a great story, but The Fighter gets on our list because of how much effort and strength Wahlberg put into the role.
He began training in 2005, but because of various production delays the film didn’t start shooting until 2009. Wahlberg didn’t stop training throughout those four years because he needed to be in top physical condition when the project finally came together. This meant that he brought his personal trainers with him as he shot other films. And would make room in his acting schedule to train for 3 hours every day.
Wahlberg was so dedicated to this role that he refused to use a stunt double. He took real punches throughout the entire film. As a result, he had nearly gotten his nose broken on numerous occasions. Basically, Wahlberg became an honest to goodness boxer for The Fighter. Growing in skill, bulk, and dedication – and earning the film #16 on our countdown.
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Photo courtesy of: FXguide
