Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale in "The Fighter"

Cafe Society
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I first posted about this movie a year and a half ago, in March of 2008.

Mark Wahlberg to play “Irish” Micky Ward in “The Fighter”

I’ve literally been waiting on this film for coming up on two years now, and its failure to get off the ground has apparently been depressing the hell out of Mark Wahlberg. Part of the problem was they lost both Matt Damon and Brad Pitt, and part was producers weren’t sure they wanted to promote Darren Aronofsky directing “The Fighter” right after he had a hit with the similarly titled “The Wrestler.” Wahlberg had this to say:

"I get up everyday at 5:00AM to train for a movie that might not even happen. It’s depressing…I’m so focused on “Fighter” and that’s not even happening so it’s all depressing. I’m just looking for the next thing. I’m always looking for the next thing. I’ve done three or four movies since I’ve been training for Fighter,” Wahlberg said, later adding: “They finally got the green light, now we have to figure out the cast thing. I’m going to meet with Darren Aronofsky on Tuesday in New York so we’ll see.”

Mark Wahlberg says “The Fighter” is down for the count, Brad Pitt knocked out!

So I check periodically to see what’s going on, and lo and behold! It’s currently filming, with David O. Russell directing and Christian Bale opposite Wahlberg!

Christian Bale joins Mark Wahlberg in “The Fighter”

Christian Bale gets into character as a crackhead, loses fifty pounds and looks like shit!

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Interesting. David O. Russell has worked well w/ Wahlberg in the past (“Three Kings”, “I Heart Huckabees”) so this could be really great.

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He’s done it before in The Machinist.

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[Christian Bale] OHH GOOOOOOOOD FOR YOUUU!

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Yup, it’s currently filming in Lowell, MA. Some of my friends in the area were amused at first with the film crews in their neighborhood, but now are getting annoyed at the road closures and crowds of gawkers.

Side note: I was arraigned in Lowell in 1993 (charges were eventually dropped) in the same session as Dickie Englund. I remember him because he had the most serious charges that day - kidnapping and carjacking.

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With both David O. Russell and Christian Bale on the set I wonder if there will be any entertaining meltdowns.