The Fighter | A

The Fighter, a rags-to-riches story about the life and early career of boxer Micky Ward, completely delivers. Already nominated for a slew of awards, and surrounded by Oscar buzz, The Fighter lives up to the hype.

The film stars Mark Wahlberg (Shooter, The Departed) as "Irish" Micky Ward, a 31-year-old boxer who is running out of time to make a run for a title. Wahlberg is superb as the tough but lovable Ward, and he makes it easy for the audience to get in his corner. Amy Adams (Enchanted, Julie and Julia), who plays Ward's love interest, does a surprisingly great job playing a gritty, tough bartender. The Fighter also has an outstanding cast of relatively unknown actors that play the rest of Ward's family. The ensemble enhances the movie by putting even more pressure on Ward with their dysfunctional antics.

Shot on location in Lowell, Mass.,with only an $11 million budget, The Fighter offers a realistic portrayal of Ward's working class family. Everybody loves an underdog story, and, though the plot is fairly predictable, the acting makes up for it 10 times over. What sets The Fighter apart from the thousands of other movies of its kind is its family dynamic. Surprisingly, there actually isn't that much fighting in a movie called The Fighter. Though boxing sets Ward apart from everyday people, the real story is about his dysfunctional family, specifically the relationship between Ward and his half-brother and trainer, Dicky Eklund. Though the brothers are constantly at-odds because of Eklund's drug abuse and irresponsibility, their relationship remains pure in that they would do anything for each other. Even with his current problems, Ward always wants Eklund in his corner helping him along. The main characters, even with all their problems, become so likable that it is impossible not to root for them.

There is really only one word for Christian Bale's (Batman Begins, American Psycho) performance: perfection. Bale brings an element of realism and a sense of tragedy to the film. A once-promising boxer who knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard, Eklund turned to crack before living up to his potential. Known for his intensity and commitment, Bale delivers again, losing 30 pounds to play Eklund. The result is a dead-on portrayal — physically, emotionally and mentally — that many say makes him a front-runner for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.  Bale's performance is so true to the real Eklund that audiences almost can't appreciate its depth until the end credits, when the real Eklund and Ward are shown.

The Fighter delivers all the thrills you would expect from a boxing movie but also brings so much more. Each character adds an interesting aspect to the film, and Bale's performance alone is worth the $10 for the movie ticket. The compelling characters and gritty portrayal of Ward's working class family make The Fighter a film you won't want to miss.