“The Fighter”
*** 1/2 stars | The sweet science gets its due in director David O. Russell’s bruising — and at times wincingly amusing — boxing drama. But so does the bittersweet mystery of familial boundaries. “The Fighter” is so muscularly and tenderly good because it trains its eye on the matches that take place between kin. Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale portray brothers Micky Ward and Dicky Eklund. Melissa Leo is frightfully good as mom Alice in the role that won her a supporting-actress Oscar to go with Bale’s supporting-actor statuette. Amy Adams is Charlene, a bartender with insight into how damaging Micky’s family is to his plans. R. 1 hour, 54 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“Hereafter”
*** stars | Clint Eastwood continues to do demanding work as a director, forging ahead artistically. His 31st feature as a director stars Matt Damon stars as a reluctant psychic and Belgian actress Cecile de France as a journalist who has a near-death experience. Written by Peter Morgan, the film is a deeply compassionate, decidedly secular and somewhat plodding meditation on what matters now and what lies beyond this life. The film never gains the emotional traction that often comes from Eastwood. As these characters head toward each other in the final act, the resolution feels forced, even saccharine. It’s a hurried, too-obvious lesson in a film that wants to deliver more elusive ones. PG-13. 2 hours 9 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
“The Switch”
** 1/2 stars | This meditation on romantic timing suffers itself from awkward scheduling. Though this isn’t its only wrinkle. Jennifer Aniston portrays Kassie, whose biological clock is ticking. Though single and without immediate prospects for a husband, Kassie has a chance to become pregnant with donor sperm. Unbeknownst to all, the deposit in question is not that of Grecian-coin-handsome Roland (Patrick Wilson) but of “only friends” Wally. Kassie gets pregnant and moves away. She returns seven years later with a very introspective son named Sebastian (Thomas Robinson). Does any of this sound familiar? The hook is, of course, when will the switcheroo be revealed, and will it wreck or unite? Bateman does an able job, but Aniston is confined by script and direction to a traditional romantic- comedy cage. PG-13. 1 hour 41 minutes. Lisa Kennedy
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