The movie is another one of those Oscar-bait films about boxing and unfortunately keeps to a formula. Mark Wahlberg plays real-life welterweight boxer Micky Ward. His Rocky-like road to the championship is shepherded by his crack addicted half brother Dicky Eckland (Christian Bale) and his domineering mother Alice (Melissa Leo), who believes it's better to keep everything in the family. Because of his crack addiction Dickey is unreliable and Alice cares more about Dicky than she does Mickey. A decision at a boxing match leads Mickey to realize that his career is being stalled and even undermined by the two, who only seem to care about themselves. This stance is further fostered by Micky's new bartender girlfriend, Charlene Fleming (Amy Adams). As Micky tries boxing life without Dicky and Alice, much to their anger, he has to figure out where they fit into his life, especially as they do not get along with Charlene, or if they even fit in at all.
There is one great thing in this movie and that's Christian Bale because, despite being the most flamboyant character, he is the most real. I didn't care about Micky or Alice or Charlene. There is a moment near the end where it looks like a sober Dicky seems to be going back to the crackhouse that occupied most of his time. I sighed in relief when he didn't do that. That tells me that Bale managed to create an emotional impact without forcing the audience to feel for him.
One problem is the accents. Sometimes they have them and sometimes they don't (especially Wahlberg). But I'm willing to overlook that. What I can't overlook is that I didn't feel any sense of urgency or that anything was at stake if Micky didn't win the championship. I find it difficult to believe that Charlene, who says she loves Micky and when watching Micky get the hell beat out of him, doesn't seem to be all that bothered by it.
Otherwise the movie is good enough to watch more than once
★★★
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