The Fighter

This movie did the boxing genre of movies proud, plain and simple. It wasn't action packed, it didn't have very many twists and turns that threw the viewer for a loop, and the story was nothing new. But....keeping all of these things in mind, the film was great. Each actor felt right for their respective parts. Mark Wahlberg killed as Micky Ward, the down and out boxer with a last chance at greatness. Christian Bale was scarily convincing as his brother, Dicky, whose drug problems ruined his own once promising career and now threaten to destroy his and Mick's friendship. Melissa Leo plays the loving but equally screwed up mother of the two, and Amy Adams plays Micky's love interest and future wife quite well. I can't argue with the critics' attacks that the movie is really pretty damn predictable. But I still found it captivating. I liked the fact that the fights didn't try to be a Rocky IV impression with ridiculous punches that could kill an ox; they were realistic and stuck to real boxing. This is a tough genre to be a part of and nail it; Raging Bull did it, and I believe these guys did it too. By the way, I'm gonna try to see all the Best Picture nominees so next up is Winter's Bone!