Fighting Spirit ; Movie Gains Grit From Standout Acting, Blue-Collar Setting

Summary

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There are five formidable stars that make David O. Russell's "The Fighter" the movie that it is: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and the city of Lowell, Mass.

Wahlberg has the movie's lead role and was the movie's sustaining force in its development through several directors and fancy schmancy co-stars. Bale is an almost certain bet to get an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Adams is making a huge career move in it and being tough, overtly sexual and fiercely profane for the first time ever on camera. And Leo continues to be one of the true originals among American actresses her age.

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Fighting Spirit ; Movie Gains Grit From Standout Acting, Blue-Collar Setting

But it is, by far, Lowell, Mass., that is to me the greatest star of the film. You can't invent its grit or roughneck claustrophobia on a Hollywood stage or anywhere else. You can capture it, if you're good...

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