The Fighter (David O. Russell – 2010) A-

This movie has some good fights in it. It has to, it’s a movie about boxer Micky Ward aka “The Pride of Lowell, Mass.”. What makes this more interesting is Ward’s family, especially his brother, Dicky. Dicky is a one time boxer who spends most of his days high on crack. The film is as much about Dicky’s transformation as it is about Micky’s struggle along with (and sometimes against) his family to the welterweight world championship. The cast is all outstanding but Christian Bale shines in the role of Dicky and steals every frame he is in.