First things first: May the records please indicate that I don’t give a damn about the “sport” of boxing. Nope, not even one bit. Not boxing, not wrestling, not UFC, not WWE, not sumo wrestling, not even kick boxing. Come to think of it, any sport where two people beat each other to a bloody pulp for the sake of “points” means zilch to me. I do see the attraction though – blood, sweat, tears, broken bones, and man-on-man action – what’s not to love?  Okay, UFC fanatics, don’t get your panties in a knot – I jest!

But here’s where things get a bit complicated. Despite my blasé attitude towards the sport itself, I really enjoy movies about boxers. Perhaps it’s because, more often than not, the real fight isn’t the one fought within the confines of the ring but in the take-no-prisoners real world rife with racism, poverty, and pain. Unsurprisingly, it’s been the essence of every great boxing movie from “The Champ” to “Million Dollar Baby.”

The latest entry in the boxing genre is “The Fighter,” a fascinating character-driven drama that, like most great boxing movies, is more focused on the relationship between 35-year-old welterweight boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his crack-head brother/trainer Dicky Eklund than his journey towards becoming a title contender. While its neither “Raging Bull” nor “Rocky,” - the two best films in the sub-genre - it’s a damn fine film that’s significantly bolstered by the raw direction of David O. Russell and the magnetic performances of Christian Bale and Melissa Leo who simply dominate the movie.

Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg) has spent the bulk of his career as a “stepping stone” contender (someone promoters use as a punching bag to boost the records of their more talented boxers) and longs to get out of the rut he’s in. But any hope of resurrecting his dying career is ruined by the bad management of his domineering monster of a mother (Leo) and the unreliable training of his whacked out older step-brother Dicky Eklund (Bale) –a once promising boxer and local hero who devolved into a skeletal mess due to a life devoted to cocaine addiction and crime.

Enter Charlene (Amy Adams), a head-strong, college-educated bartender who convinces Micky that the only way to get out is to drop his family as his management and seek the help of other trainers. But blood ties runs deep and Dicky has been too much of an influence on Micky’s life to let him go. However when Dicky’s reckless behavior lands him in jail for what seems to be the 100th time (28th actually), Micky’s is forced to make a decision that may rip the family apart.

“The Fighter” is a production Mark Wahlberg had been working on to get off the ground for more than four years. Both Brad Pitt and Matt Damon were attached to the film before scheduling conflicts arose as was “Black Swan” director Darren Aronofsky who stayed on as executive producer. For a long time it seemed like this long-gestating project would never pan out but things reversed after Christian Bale and Wahlberg’s frequent collaborator, director David O. Russell, joined the production.

It may have been the best thing to happen to the project because Russell’s raw, no nonsense directional style coupled with his penchant for finding humor in the darkest moments help elevate the movie from formulaic genre picture to one of the year’s most entertaining films. By shooting the movie on location in Lowell, Massachusetts and hiring many locals, including some in major roles, Russell brings a real authenticity and sense of reality to the drama. The decision to use classic rock tracks across the soundtrack such as Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” only add to the film’s charm. Additionally, Russell’s decision to shoot the boxing scenes using television cameras used during the era gives the fights the look and feel of an actual HBO boxing broadcast. He even uses the actual commentary tracks of the original Ward fights.

The primary reason to watch “The Fighter” though, is for its sensational acting and leading the way is Christian Bale’s incredible performance as Dicky Eklund. Bale’s Dicky is a jumpy, bug-eyed and wildly unpredictable live-wire who despite having destroyed his life with cocaine continues to be this charismatic, funny and instantly likeable guy who manages to make the best of every situation he’s in. One look at him and you’ll know something off but you still want to hang out with him. Everything about Bale’s transformation – from the intense weight loss, the messed up teeth, the receding hairline, including a bizarre bald spot to the way he moves, walks and talks is remarkable. Sometimes it’s hard to believe this is a British actor.

Going toe to toe with Bale is veteran character actress Melissa Leo who is terrifying as Alice, the matriarch of Micky and Dicky’s insanely dysfunctional family that also includes five crazy sisters who function as echoes to Alice’s insults. Leo plays Alice as a domineering chain-smoking, hairspray addicted, bully and control freak who’d do anything to have her way. Much like Bale, this is a very showy performance that deserves to be seen. You don’t want to be pissing off this white trash monster mom.  Adams, who has made a career out of playing innocent and sheltered characters, is also commanding in a very different kind of role. Her climactic scene with Bale on a porch is one of the movie’s best.

As for Wahlberg – well’s he’s Wahlberg. Actually, he’s quite good in an understated performance. It’s not his best work (that would be “The Departed”) but it’s a quite performance that functions as a perfect counterpart to the insane, over-the-top characters around him.

BOTTOM LINE: “The Fighter” is a supremely crafted boxing drama that, while mostly formulaic and predictable, is championed by the gritty direction of David O. Russell whose work lends the film an aura of authenticity rarely seen in big studio pictures. But if boxing is not your thing, see it for the superb performances from its acting ensemble spearheaded by the amazing work of Christian Bale and Melissa Leo who bring to life two of the year’s most colorful characters.

GRADE: A-

THE FIGHTER

Directed by: David O. Russell

Written by: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson

Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo

Rated: R (for language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality).