The Fighter

Boxing biopic, based on the life of welterweight 'Irish' Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and his dysfunctional half-brother, trainer, and full blown crackhead Dickie (Bale). Surrounded by an imbalanced mother and seven disgruntled sisters, Micky finds solace in bartender Charlene (Adams), who wants him to think outside the mean streets of Lowell, Massachusetts. But it's Dickie that takes center stage here, with Bale turning in a visceral performance as the former boxer, still basking in the clouded glory of a bout 15 years prior against champ Sugar Ray Leonard. However, what effectively begins as 'Raging Bull,' takes a dive in round seven with 'Rocky'-like training montages and underdog cliches. Should have been a KO, instead it ends up a TKO.