Assuming that 'Wahlberg + Bale + Adams = good' is correct

Rating: 9/10 (27 November 2017)

Seeing Mark Wahlberg (Micky), Christian Bale (Dicky) and Amy Adams (Charlene) all in this movie immediately caught my eye and they all delivered in this rousing - yet somewhat expected - sports drama based on a true story.
As I said, all the three above put in committed performances as very suburban and ordinary (and in her case, scrappy) people trying to honestly work their problems out. I would say Bale stands above them because he lost weight (already did that for The Machinist), delivered his lines authentically and created more of a mirror image of Dicky than the others did. Again, he's English, yet he nails the American character better than the others - amazing (no Batman rant yet) with a deserved win of Best Supporting Actor. Melissa Leo (whom I didn't mention plays Micky's mother) won Best Supporting Actress and I'm sort of torn between her and Adams - Leo had less screen time, but delivered a lot when she got it; whereas Adams had a bit more influence, still with solid acting (she got nominated, so it's something).
The style of the movie is very realistic; David O. Russell cuts out all the BS and sappy nature of what this type of movie could hold to go for something simple, yet able to yield a lot. He abstains from some sort of brutal and destructive drama by keeping some humour and good heart in there. The music is also very fitting and awesome, and I've picked up Back In The Saddle by Aerosmith from it. Obviously, being a true story, there is a degree of predictability, but Russell works with - and gets the most out of - the unique parts of the journey to make this film as entertaining as it is.
Also, I love the well-trained accents; they don't seem tryhard or overdone, especially for Wahlberg who is from Massachusetts, like Micky Ward. Even Bale (again, the Englishman) nails it. There isn't a lot to analyse or look into for this film, but it sure as hell impressed me.