It's audacious, it's fun, it's rowdy, and it's just twisted enough to always be interesting. Beyond that, it's one of the year's best acting showcases and likely to grab multiple Oscar nominations. "The Fighter" easily could have slipped into boxing-film clichés, but Russell doesn't let that happen. Instead, it lands its hardest blows while chronicling the struggle of a family, which is a far more interesting fight.

Nothing in life ever comes easy. The Fighter, directed by David O. Russell, is a drama flick based on a true story about a boxer that displays how getting something in life takes effort. The film revolves around the Ward family who is deeply invested in boxing. Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) is the hard-nosed boxer in the family. He is managed by his insensitive mother Alice Ward (Melissa Leo) and trained by his formerly successful half-brother Dickey Eklund (Christian Bale). This family orientated boxing team is by no means perfect. Dickey is a crack addict and Alice is negligent of it. Micky, who has lost his past few fights, begins to realize the faulty predicament he is in. Thus, this movie is the story of how Micky Ward sorts through his problems in order to get to the top of the boxing world. The Fighter, a beautifully crafted film that is perhaps one of the most motivational movies out there, reveals the hindrances family can cause and the importance of hard work and perseverance in the road to success.Right from the beginning the audience is immersed into the world in which Micky lives. Micky, drenched in sweat, is seen jogging around the old, rundown town sweeping the streets with a broom. Dickey is by his brothers' side motivating him to train. This opening scene is very well executed. The audience is able to see the town that Micky was brought up in. The camera follows Micky and Dickey as they make their run around town. Though not explicitly shown, the poverty of the town is revealed through the sub-par housing and the underprivileged people who live in these worn out buildings. The audience has an understanding of the rugged place that Micky comes from and this sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Micky's relationship with his family is quite rocky. Dickey, a crack addict, is supposed to be the role model for Micky. Yet, Dickey is caught a number of times at the crack house. If his dirty clothes and disgusting teeth were not enough to show that he is a crack addict, maybe the way he is constantly sweating and reliving his past by shadow boxing an imaginary Sugar Ray Leonard gives it away. Nonetheless, this is Micky's trainer. However, he rarely shows up and Micky is always trained by Mickey O'Keefe, the local police officer. Micky's mother Alice, who is also his manager, is negligent of the fact that Dickey is a druggy and therefore is blind to all the trouble that Micky receives from his family. In one scene, Alice and Dickey get Micky a fight against an unfair opponent just for the sake of getting payed. It is obvious that Micky is getting tied down by his family. Despite all of this adversity, Micky works hard for his dream of becoming a world champion. This task is definitely not easy; especially when his own family fails to provide the support he needs. Micky takes it upon himself and steps away from his family. This is of course very hard for him. All his life he had known nothing but his mother and brother. However, this is a step in the right direction for Micky and his career. Nonetheless, when he is faced with a challenging fight, he consults Dickey for help. Micky trains harder than he ever did and is on a mission to become the champion he always dreamed to be. Though one might say The Fighter is just like any other boxing movie which tells the story of an aspiring boxer, I would argue that this particular movie is better than the rest. This film illustrates the hardships that can be caused by family and how the strength and will to persevere and move on can lead to great things. The film is unique in the sense that it reveals the trials and tribulations Micky faces with great detail and leaves the audience with full understanding. One starts to feel for Micky and wishes they were in his corner cheering him on. After watching the film, I felt motivated to work harder at everything I did in life. I felt a fire burning inside of me that wouldn't go out until I achieved my dreams. This movie is a must watch and is a great source of inspiration.

Christian Bale is never a letdown... All his films are remarkable in my opinion. Awesome Action and Great Story-line. Marky Mark plays the part like a champ. This movie is a "must see" for Boxing fans! Check it out to appreciate it. You will not regret watching this. I've viewed it about five times...

Powered by terrific performances from its cast, The Fighter also happens to be David O. Russell's best film to date that may not rank amongst the finest examples of its genre but it still serves as a competently crafted sports biopic that's less about the sport & more about the athlete, his family & his path to redemption.The story of The Fighter follows the life of professional boxer Micky Ward who withdraws from the boxing world after suffering a humiliating defeat in a match he already had reservations about. The plot chronicles the journey he takes to get back into the ring while focusing on his relationship with his brother whose own life has taken a self-destructive route.Directed by David O. Russell (best known for Silver Linings Playbook & American Hustle), the story journeys the same route that majority of boxing films tend to take plus also falls flat in between on a few occasions but what infuses a vibrant energy into it is the rich set of interesting characters it packs in & a talented ensemble that brings those characters to life with finesse.The boxing sequences are brilliantly choreographed and do provide the necessary adrenaline high when it matters but this picture is more focused on the relationship between the two brothers and illustrates it amazingly well, for those moments do pack a powerful punch. But it also suffers from letting it characters go a bit overboard at times, something that has become a norm in O. Russell's films of lately.Coming to the performances, the cast comprises of Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Christian Bale & Melissa Leo, with Bale & Leo impressing the most. It's not that the input by leading cast falls short in any aspect, it's just that Bale & Leo take their supporting characters to a different level, and the Academy Award they won for their respective works in this feature film is definitely an earned one.On an overall scale, The Fighter is no genre masterpiece but it still offers a sufficiently entertaining ride that will leave majority of its viewers satisfied in the end. It's not without its shortcomings but most of them get brushed away by the powerful, explosive & riveting performances delivered by its ensemble. The story isn't memorable by any means but what Bale & Leo pull off here will continue to reverberate for a few more years down the line.