Leading up to next week’s big release of the Oscar nominated David O’Russell directed THE FIGHTER, we will be posting a host of interviews with the cast and filmmakers behind the film.
THE FIGHTER is the inspirational true story of two boxing legends. Dicky Ecklund (CHRISTIAN BALE) is a former boxing legend whose life has become shattered by drug abuse whilst Micky Ward (MARK WAHLBERG), his half brother, has become the town’s fighter and fading hope for a champion. But with Micky losing fight after punishing fight, it takes iron-willed Charlene (AMY ADAMS), to help him split with his family, pursue his own interests and train without his criminal brother.
To kick off our interviews, here’s Amy Adams who plays Charlene in the film.
Check THE FIGHTER in cinemas from next Wednesday, February 2nd in the UK.
Did you have fun playing your character?
She was a really fun character to play, not only because she’s tough but because she’s able to go toe to toe with this guy and hold her own and also be a sweetie for Micky.
What attracted you to playing the role of Charlene?
Well initially it was David O Russell, he sent me twenty pages of the script, they were sort of writing Charlene and kind of beefing her up a little bit and he asked if I’d be interested in playing Charlene. I mean how could I say no, first half it was David O. Russell who I’d met and really had a great time talking to, and then knowing it was Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Melissa Leo, I was the last one to come on out of that group and I’d love them all, I’d met them at different times of my life and I just was very excited!
What is your character like?
Charlene is a girl who has to work really hard in her life for what she has and has maybe made some mistakes, and when we meet her she’s kind of pulling herself back up and she meets Micky and sees in him something just so remarkable and so much potential and she sees his family just really pulling him down and she really wants to encourage him to be his own man and stand up and be the man she knows he can be.
How was it working with Mark Wahlberg?
You know I never felt the producer hand of Mark Wahlberg, I think because we worked so closely, our characters, most of my scenes were with him and very intimate scenes so, I never really felt that side. I mean the filming was a great experience and there was a lot of energy, a lot of love, a lot of passion, a lot of hard work and I could only think that that has to do with him being one of the producers as he really just put so much of him into the film, not only as a producer, as an actor, and being in Lowell, he knows that area, he put so much time into making everybody from that town feel a part of the movie. He did a great job.
Why is this more than just a boxing movie?
The Fighter is so much more than just a movie about boxing. It has a love story, it has family drama, because it’s true, its real life, it’s telling people the real story and in that there’s humour, there’s laughter and there’s tears and the boxing just adds an element of energy that make s you really excited when you watch the film.
What type of audience will this movie appeal to?
From the response that I’ve had, we’ve had some teenage girls see the film and just go crazy for it and then we’ve had young men. I just think, pretty much everybody. It’s probably not suitable for a really young audience, there’s some adult language, but aside from that I think everybody should go see the film.
What will people take away from this movie?
I think everyone’s going to feel something different but hopefully, they all had a really good time, and they walk away wanting to see it again. That’s what I keep hearing, is like “oh my gosh, I just want to go back and see it from the beginning!”
What is The Fighter about?
The Fighter is about Micky Ward and his determination and his struggle and his fight to get to where he got to. It’s a story about a family, their struggle and you know, it’s just a story about life and kind of what we all go through to get what it is we dream of.
THE FIGHTER is released in the UK on the 2nd of February.
