A cross between Raging Bull and Rocky, not quite as good as either, but very close. Christian Bale made the movie. I say A-

Rating: 8/10 (14 March 2011)

Can you follow your dreams without your family? After a lifetime of being in his brothers shadow Micky (Wahlberg) finally gets the title shot he has been looking for. The catch is neither his brother (Bale) who has trained him his whole life, or his mother (Melissa Leo) can have anything to do with him. This is a great movie. It is a boxing movie, but much like "Raging Bull" boxing is only part of the story. The focus is mostly on the family and how important they are in Micky's life, and how they don't always return the love and need Micky has for them. Being a true story (also like "Raging Bull") makes this movie much more enjoyable and tense, knowing that all of what is happening really went on. Amy Adams is great in the movie. This is a total departure from what she usually does (if you don't believe me watch this and then "Enchanted"). But I think this movie would not have been nearly as good without Bale. To me he made this movie. I felt it was a cross between "Raging Bull" and "Rocky", almost as good as both of them. I give it an A-.
Would I watch again? - Yes I would