My first thought when I saw the trailer for "The Fighter" was ... how any times are they gonna make "Rocky"? Hell, Sylvester Stallone has written six versions of the film all by himself.

But tonight I went to the actual film, David O. Russell's "based on a real story" adaptation of the life of Lowell, Mass., fighter Micky Ward. And all thoughts of "Rocky" disappeared.

I could use a number of ways to get into critiquing the film. I could talk about the genre, fight films ("Rocky," "Champion," "Raging Bull," "Million Dollar Baby," etc.). I could talk about actors (Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo). I could talk about family films ("The Great Santini," "The Royal Tenenbays," "A Boy's Life") or films that center on cities ("La Dolce Vita," "Chinatown," "L.A. Story").

But, really, "The Fighter" works most of all because it is directed by a brilliant, if acutely strange, filmmaker. Russell, who threw one of the most famous on-set hissy-fits of all time, is one of those directors who always makes something interesting. Whether we're talking about "Spanking the Monkey," "Flirting With Disaster," "Three Kings" or "I Heart Huckabees," which represent a range of achievement (or failure), Russell manages to make watchable movies.

And that is the success of "The Fighter." It feels almost like a documentary the way it delves into the troubled life of Ward, whose loyalty to family is what holds him back from being the fighter he could become. Russell's camera is like the fly on the wall, privy to everything the Wards go through, from family fights to Micky's almost getting beaten to death because of their ... what? Self-obsession? Stupidity? Ignorance?

The star of the film is Bale, the "Dark Knight" actor who virtually channels Ward's older half-brother, Dicky. It is Dicky who, because of his addiction problems, grabs the spotlight throughout. And if he doesn't earn an Oscar nomination, then there is no justice.

I walked into the fighter expecting to hate it. Instead, I loved it. No matter how you critique it, it ends up being one of the best fils of 2010.

I think Sly Stallone might agree.