Bale KO's The Wahlberg

If ever there was a movie pitch aimed at making me not see a movie it was this, 'True life boxing drama starring Mark Wahlberg'. I've seen all the Rocky movies (and Raging Bull) and it's pretty much established that Wahlberg is useless unless he's part of an ensemble. Then it was announced that the film, imaginatively titled The Fighter, would be directed by David O. Russell and co-star Christian Bale, both deeply committed, firebrand talents that could surely lift the generic material to at least 'watchable' standards.

And so they did. The drama isn't so much focused on Wahlberg's boxer Mickey, who dream at a shot at the world welterweight title, but on the personal conflict he was born into in his Boston suburban hometown. On one side is his older, half-brother Dickie (Bale), a former high-achieving boxer who threw his talent away on drugs, his mother Alice and the 'gang' of five sisters that protect the family interests. At the beginning of the movie it's under Dickie and Alice's wing we find Mickey. On the other side we have Mickey's father, the local cop who runs the gym Mickey O'Keefe (playing himself in this true story!) and Amy Adam's barmaid Charlene who starts dating The Wahlberg.

Directed with the same raw style and quirky editing that Russell brought to Three Kings, the film follows Mickey as he learns to stand up and communicate his wants and needs to those in his life. Wahlberg is Wahlberg and is in no danger in receiving any acting recognition (although, to be fair, his is the most introverted character in the whole film). Bale impresses as Dickie, making his cocky drug addict likable enough for us to sympathise with. Melissa Leo completely transforms herself in an Oscar baiting performance as Alice. It's her character that's the greatest source of antagonism in the story and she raises to the challenge of etching a fully rounded character. It's also good to see Amy Adams try something outside of her comfort zone (no Disney princesses or uptight Nuns here).

A strong, well acted and directed movie, but not a great one, that will hopefully see at least one acting win come Oscar night. But it's not a revelatory drama or ground-breaking reinterpretation of the sports genre either.