A knockout. Emotionally raw a gripping family psychodrama that's passionate it ends with a soulful triumph.

Rating: 10/10 (19 December 2010)

I must say "The Fighter" is clearly a knockout in fact one of the better films I've seen in awhile. And I'm not just saying that because it's a true story of an underdog from the sports world. This is a picture that has enough drama, conflict, sorrow, and courage, with determined passion that it will triumph the eyes of any viewer even if they aren't sports fans. The cinematography is first rate the way the fight scenes were portrayed with realism and fury. And the performances were top notch some of the best I've seen in a long time especially the work of Bale, Adams, and Leo's stand out.
If your not a boxing fan then you probably don't know the story of Mickey Ward the Lowell, Mass. working class guy who overcame many personal problems in life especially conflict with his family to become a welterweight champion. Well "The Fighter" is a near perfect film that captures the story just perfect as director David O. Russell really researched it well as this real life drama of rising stardom that's set near Beantown will leave you with a want to stand up cheering state of mind.
Mark Wahlberg is Mickey Ward a local working stiff who struggles as a fighter as he's overshadowed by his older half brother a one time pride prize fighter named Dicky Eklund(brilliant and done in a believable way by Christian Bale). Mickey under the guidance of Dicky as his trainer takes some lumps even though Dick's training style is tough and admirable yet that is sunk under by his manager Mickey's own mother Alice(wicked and well done by Melissa Leo)and this is a lady with control issues she's to ego driven and very stubborn as she's clearly to domineering. And tragically on the side Dicky's main love is that of being an addicted chain smoking crack addict who smokes it up at a local rundown house in the Lowell projects. Finally his crazy and brash hobby leads him to go away for a prison stint. And here Mickey though hurt feels new light and direction in his ring journey with Eklund gone.
Now the most interesting and tasty part of the film which I call a wild card character is Charlene Fleming(played wonderful by the sexy and attractive Amy Adams). Charlene a local bar tender who's tough with outspoken lips becomes Mickey's new girlfriend as this little vixen is direct to the point and outspoken one girl that will be right beside Mickey as she will not back down from his tough as nails family as her and mother Alice engage in sassy mouth battles. This makes Charlene all that much more sexy as she's so erotically rugged and beautifully raw(and nice was seeing Amy Adams in a sexy see thru black bra!).
Thru all of this emotional drama of family pugilistic life Mickey endures the storm and makes up with mom and Dicky proving that it takes some dysfunction to triumph in the ring. Overall "The Fighter" is an excellent film not just of sports satisfaction, it's a rousing win for one's spirit and soul it proved that an underdog can win and find satisfaction despite being flawed with inner turmoil of family grief. All in all it scores a big knockout the cast will floor you with their performances. "The Fighter" is one film that has champion written all over it.