Did you know? Famous boxer Micky Ward, played in The Fighter by Mark Wahlberg, was given the nickname “Irish Micky Ward” during his career as a fighter. The movie portrays his comeback, but just like Wahlberg stole the show in The Departed, the city of Lowell, where Micky hails from, steals this movie.
There aren’t many movies that feature a specific setting this prominently, or effectively, or importantly to understanding the entire story. The heavily Irish area Micky Ward comes from shapes much of his identity and ambitions, and is reflected by the people around him, particularly his family. This adds to the pressure he has going into his big comeback fight, just more odds he has to overcome, but at the same time, he can’t divorce himself from this part of his identity. Lowell is as much a part of him as anything else. And coming to terms with this part of his identity is key to his finding success again. The theme of regional identity as it pertains to an area driven by Irish immigration seems appropriate for the season.
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Published: Mar 16, 2013 11:22 am