7/10
Boxing movies usually focus on rags to riches kind of stories, focusing on guys who struggle to make it to the top. The Fighter is a true story about a guy who can’t escape his brother’s shadow despite the tarnish legacy he has. Mark Wahlberg is good here, but not great, and is outshined by Christian Bale. No one can ever say Bale doesn’t put everything into a character, because you wouldn’t even recognize him here, it’s that good. This story centers around one of the craziest families ever, which means everyone who survives this mess is truly a saint.
Ten Stars or Less 