The Fighter (2010)

David O. Russell tells the true story of half brother boxers Micky Ward and "Dicky" Eklund (Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale) in a tale of both family and personal redemption. The film very concisely evokes the Rocky ethos, and the beaten up blue collar flavor of its principle setting of Lowell Massachusetts. Filmed on location and casting a fair amount of locals, this movie feels true, feels lived in. Everyone channels the place, not hard for Wahlberg whose from near by, but impressive for Bale, and impressive (if not unexpectedly so) for Melissa Leo, the latter two won Oscars. Even Amy Adams essays the local color, cast against type early in her stardom, previously known for playing doe eyed characters, her Charlene Fleming is much more the realist. The film that inaugurated Russell's strongest cinematic decade, very well crafted, very effective. ***1/2