Enjoyable kitchen sink boxing drama

Rating: 8/10 (25 February 2011)

Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is a moderately talented boxer, younger brother of his trainer Dicky Eklund (Christian Bale), who himself once knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard before he ended up addicted to crack.. This film follows Micky's career path, and the influences on it of his brother, his girlfriend Charlene (Amy Adams) and his mother Alice (Melissa Leo), together with various other figures.
I wasn't expecting to enjoy this film. A long-term project of Wahlberg's, and based on true events (and presumably brought to the screen with the co-operation of the two brothers, who are featured in some footage as the credits role), it is one of those dramas - there is very little humour here - rooted in run-down urban America featuring what appeared to be a story of a decent man with potential, supported by a good woman, but ultimately doomed to be dragged down by the importance to him of his family, leading to his being let down by his unreliable petty criminal brother who he idealises, and his appalling manager/mother and herd of harridan sisters.
The story didn't go exactly as I expected, however, and I rapidly came to care about Micky so much that I wanted to see things through to the end. The fight sequences were very well staged and, while I wasn't up on my feet cheering, I felt like it.
Looking at performances and award nominations, I felt that Bale was rather too cartoony, particular in the early scenes, and Melissa Leo was rather one-note (if the film was indeed made with the co-operation of the two brothers, then heaven only knows what mother and sisters made of the monsters they are portrayed as). On the other hand, I very much enjoyed Amy Adams playing against type, and Wahlberg's performance of quiet sincerity also appealed greatly.