Dysfunctional family that puts up a good fight.

Rating: 8/10 (13 April 2011)

Mark Wahlberg, after years of trying to get this movie made, convinces his friend David O. Russell to direct him in this raw, hard punching boxing movie. Wahlberg grew up idolizing one-time junior welterweight champ "Irish" Micky Ward and now plays him on the big screen. Ward comes from a dysfunctional, but close-knit family that lived and breathed boxing. Micky's half-brother Dicky Eklund(Christian Bale),was in charge of training him, his mother Alice(Melissa Leo)managed him and Charlene(Amy Adams)is the girlfriend given credit in helping to open his eyes toward a better chance at a championship bout. The fight scenes are so real you almost feel the slinging sweat. You can't say this story about the "Pride of Lowell" is candy-coated. It is obvious Wahlberg trained long and hard to play this role. Bale is incredible as the fighter past his prime with more current interest in drugs and clowning around. Adams is stunning in a straight-forward way and easily capable of stealing scenes. Others in the cast: Jack McGee, Jeanna Lamia, Jill Quigg, Melissa McMeekin and Mickey O'Keefe. You may have seen more boxing movies than you can count; but not like this one.