I saw this tonight, and it is really excellent. It's a real actor's film, with a lot of close shots, flying sweat, minimal production, sometimes grainy and jerky sequences. It's also the most stereotypic of boxing movies....guy from the bad end of town, through grit, turmoil and struggle, gets past dysfunctional family, gets his shot at the top and gets the girl. It's just SO well done, though that you get completely dragged into the family melodrama that plays out. Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams are all epic, as is the entire supporting cast, especially psycho-mother Melissa Leo, one of those actors that you recognize but can't name. If this reads like a rave, it is.
