"THE FIGHTER" -- Sunday, January 10 -- ****

'The Fighter" is a good movie about the need for a boxer "Irish" Micky Ward (played by Mark Wahlburg) from Lowell, Massachusetts to break free from the destructive relationship with his brother Dick Eklund (played by Christian Bale) once the "Pride of Lowell" (now beset by self-destructive habits including drug addiction),  his family and his own lack of confidence.  It is well-acted and well-written -- and for me, a bit hard to watch.  Not because of the fighting violence, but also because of the family dysfunction that plagues the mild-souled fighter and from which he is loathe to break free.  But break free he finally does -- though not quite in the way I might expect.  His love interest (Amy Adams) is a truth-teller and spit-fire and helps him see the light, but in the end, it is on his terms -- and unexpected ones, at that.  The story is woven around a documentary and is well told and well filmed and directed by David Russell.  Four stars from me.