The Fighter in Real Life The Hollywood Reporter

Publish date: 2024-06-08

‘The Fighter’ in Real Life – The Hollywood Reporter

Dicky and Micky
Half-brothers Dicky Eklund (left), 53, and Micky Ward, 45.
The Fighter director David O. Russell asked acclaimed photographer Danielle Levitt to document the people of gritty Lowell, Mass. A limited edition book of Levitt’s photos,which were recently showcased at Los Angeles’ Known Gallery, will be published later this year.
“I think it isn’t the easiest relationship on the planet,” says photographer Danielle Levitt of Eklund and Ward, adding that Eklund, who has battled drug addiction, “is still trying to figure out his footing.”
The City of Lowell
Producer-star Wahlberg and director David O. Russell elected to shoot Fighter in Lowell rather than cheaper locations such as Toronto to give the setting a major presence in the film.
Director Russell long wanted to have a photographer document the city. “The people of Lowell — I just love them,” he says.
Ramalho’s West End Gym
The popular Lowell gym, where the brothers trained, and its locker room. “This is truly the heart of Lowell boxing,” Levitt says.
Locker Room
Inside Ramalho's West End Gym.
Russell says that photographer Levitt’s work jibes with the “very real, gritty, documentary-like feeling” of his film. “We wanted a photographer who felt that. She really had a passion for this. She went up to Lowell on her own dime.”
Cathy & Alice Jr.
Two of the Ward-Eklund sisters, Cathy (left) and Alice Jr., stand in front of the latter’s home.
The sisters’ depiction in The Fighter as scrappy and defiant rings true for Levitt. “When push comes to shove, don’t mess with them — they will gather,” she says.
Arthur Ramalho
The trainer sits contemplatively in the office of Ramalho’s West End Gym. He trained Dicky Eklund before the boxer’s career was derailed by drug addiction.
“I think he was very disappointed that Dicky couldn’t focus on the boxing and instead focused on his lifestyle,” Levitt says.
Ray Ray
Ray Ray, a relative of the Ward-Eklund family, sits at home. The boxing fanatic suffers from cerebral palsy.
“He has the heart and the spirit of the town,” Levitt says. “He is an amazing kid who had persevered through hardships.”
Alice Ward
Levitt says “it took a lot of cajoling” to get Ward, who is battling illness, to agree to be photographed. “She was the archetypal matriarch,” Levitt says. Ward is played by Melissa Leo in the film.
"Somebody should go thank her ass one of these days!," said Leo of Alice Ward in January. "She was holding the family together and gettin' careers for both of those boys, thank you very much. Dicky, his fight with Sugar Ray never would've happened. She arranged it. She made careers for them both."
Uncle Jack
A relative of the Ward-Eklund family.
“He doesn’t need a lot — he doesn’t have a lot,” Levitt says.
Small-Town Sisters
From left: Phyllis, Sherry and Gail, in the home of Alice Ward, the family matriarch.
Says Levitt: "We'd go from one familty member to the next. While we were there, we were feeling the vibe of Lowell."
Local Hero
Micky Ward enjoys a meal at Mike’s Sandwich Shop.
From THR's review of The Fighter: "This true story about light welterweight boxer and perennial underdog “Irish” Micky Ward makes for less of a sports movie than a domestic drama about blue-collar brothers struggling to stay a family while the forces of drug addiction and parental ambition tear them apart."
The Fighter is nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for David O. Russell.