Knockout performances

Rating: 9/10 (17 June 2019)

The Fighter has the makings of a conventional sports story, but is elevated significantly by truly powerhouse performances. Wahlberg is terrific in his subtlety, and Adams and Leo both play terrifically off of the male leads. The true star though is Christian Bale, who goes full method and completely embodies his character. These efforts lift this traditional boxing story to near sports classic status.