Best Movie of 2010

“The Fighter” plays like “Rocky” set in the same neighborhood as “Gone Baby Gone;” indeed, Ben Affleck ought to watch this film to understand why his first film was so much better than his most recent one, “The Town.” I’ve mentioned before that lower-class, Irish-Catholic Boston has become fertile ground for cinema the last few years, and “The Fighter” can take its place alongside “Mystic River,” “The Departed” and the aforementioned kidnapping flick as classics in this sub-genre.

Mark Wahlberg is a young professional boxer, and Christian Bale is his older brother, who once knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard in a 10 round fight. Wahlberg might be an up-and-coming fighter, or he might be a stepping stone for up-and-coming fighters; depends on who you ask. Bale is a brilliant strategist, but also a major distraction, thanks primarily to his crack addiction. A documentary film crew follows him around; he tells people they’re making a film about his comeback; really it’s about the devastating effects crack has on a family, and Bale gives them plenty of material to work with. Melissa Leo is their mother and Wahlberg’s manager; she’s fiercely devoted to her boys, but also grossly overestimates her skills as a manager.  She also has seven grown daughters who still live at home.   The way this family relates, and argues, is alternately fascinating, hilarious and baffling.  (I especially got a kick out of the logic in their heated arguments:  ”You stand there in my kitchen and disagree with me while you owe me two hundred dollars?  What’s wrong with you?”)

Read the rest of my review here.