Christian Bale and Amy Adams Star in ‘The Fighter’

Christian Bale attends the Cinema Society & Men's Health screening of 'The Fighter' at SVA Theater on Dec. 10 in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Christian Bale portrays Dicky Eklund, half-brother of boxer Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg in their new movie, The Fighter.

Also starring is Amy Adams, who plays Micky’s bartender girlfriend, Charlene Fleming.

Inspired by a true story, the movie was directed by David O. Russell, and Bale lost over 30 pounds for the role.

Detroit Free Press described Bale’s performance as “exuberant, boastful, self-deluded, charming, nervous, undependable, and loyal,” while Rolling Stones magazine called it “phenomenal.”

Rumors abound that Bale’s performance may earn him his first Oscar nomination.

Meanwhile, Adams had to take boxing lessons to get into her part as tough-talking Charlene. Russell told New York Magazine how he got her to practice in the cereal aisle at Whole Foods!

“We were choreographing how I wanted it in the cereal aisle,” the director said. “Like, when a face smooshes or a character delivers a straight right—bam-bam! We had to practice that a couple of times.”

Russell thought that nearby shoppers were amused. “They were like, ‘Amy Adams is here!’ And, ‘Who’s that other guy?’” he told the magazine.