The robbers always seem to be one step ahead of the cops in the online world. For nothing, that is i.e. no money, you can download free music, movies, and books. The entertainment industry is in free fall as everything is just a few mouse clicks away. Only the other day a friend offered me 1,001 e-books –all modern classics- to view on my computer via a USB stick if I wanted and free of charge. Naturally, I …refused.
To help the ailing film industry I am regular movie-goer. By regular I mean now and again when a picture catches my attention. The big screen experience is going through a flat spell at the moment. The relative cheapness of official DVD’s released not long after a film’s premiere must contribute to falling revenue for cinemas, therefore they need plenty of aid. My philanthropic heart went out to Hollywood and I went to see The Fighter.
The performance of Christian Bale as the crack-head boxer is terrific. Truly, he is a fantastic actor and has moved into my pantheon of all-time greats; only Brando and big Sammy are above him. Bale just oozes class from every pore and is utterly believable in his role. The film also stars Mark Wahlberg, an actor so wooden, one immediately thinks of teak, mahogany and a sideboard case. Worse than a shelf, Wahlberg used prosthetic acting in Boogie Nights. Bale wins the acting honours and also makes the film a success.
It’s not nice issuing spoilers in case any one is waiting for the DVD I will only say that Marky Mark, as Wahlberg was once known, gets to deliver the best line in the script. After an opponent calls off on the eve of a fight a replacement is hastily sought. Seemingly the stand-in fighter is just out of jail, out of condition and is said to be “off the couch”. On fight night Wahlberg takes one look at the size and shape of his rival and barks “That guy did not just get off the f***in’ couch. If he did, I’m gonna get a couch like that.”
As this was a boxing film I got thinking about important boxing matters. The ring girl is expected to cavort in a skimpy outfit for twelve rounds, if the fight stopped in round one would she receive her purse, thus getting something for nothing? That sounds like money for old rope to me.
Boadicea's Chariot 
The only boxing film I recall seing was with Paul Newman – ‘Somebody up there likes me’?
Good blog JW, but I cannot contribute a great deal, at least with regard to boxing. I don’t like it, and don’t approve of it as a sport I’m afraid. I cannot see what is sporting about knocking 7 bells out of another person; Sport? I don’t think so.
If I ruled the world, I’d ban it.
SUTLM is a great film, Peter. Classic early Newman.
Val, I can understand your feelings and I’m sure there are lots who agree with you. In my eyes all sports are dangerous to an extent and though I’ve not got the statistics on hand I’m sure boxing is not as damaging to the participants as other contact sports.
Sports films are notoriously hard to make believable and this film succeeds partly due to the fact it is based on a true story. Go and see it, quality script and acting from Bale and there’s not much boxing in it.
Now Val and Zen (not forgetting Pseu)
Tonight on Mastermind (BBC2) one of the contestant’s specialist subjects was Queen. I’ve taped it and will pit my wits tomorrow when I’ll be relatively sober. It should be available to watch on the BBC i-player. I’ve started so I’ll f