Boxing movies have been around nearly as long as movies themselves. The sweet science just lends itself to the cinematic treatment: all that physical conflict sets up nicely as a mirror to narrative conflict, and the rising action of the story parallels the intense training and building strength of a fighter preparing for a fight. It’s a visceral, versatile combination that heightens the dramatic impact of any basic story. And in the hands of a skilled director, the controlled violence of the ring can be turned into a bludgeoning ballet of sweat, blood, and chiselled muscle.

In his entry into the canon, David O. Russell doesn’t reinvent any wheels — boxing movies follow familiar contours because those shapes work. But he does manage what the best of the genre always do: to make the sport a supporting player in the against-the-odds underdog story.

The Fighter is based on the true story of two brothers, Dicky and Micky Ward, both boxers from a large family in Lowell, Massachusetts. Dicky (Christian Bale), the older of the two, had his big shot long before the events of the movie, when he managed to get a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard, who he knocked down once and went the distance with, losing in a decision. That moment in time is Dicky’s claim to fame, and despite the loss, made him the pride of this small town. He’s been riding that wave for over a decade, and he’s still beloved in the community, despite being a drug addict and a general screw-up ever since then.