Just when you thought Mark Wahlberg had solidified his status as a self-deprecating semi-comedian (his hilarious Date Night cameo and starring role in this summer's best comedy, The Other Guys), he decides to get serious again.

In the trailer for his new movie, The Fighter, the artist formerly known as Marky Mark tries his hand at Oscar-highlight-reel acting -- and sort of succeeds.

The film features Wahlberg as real-life boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and Christian Bale as his half-brother, Dickie Eklund, a fellow fighter whose ring-side dreams were dashed after he became addicted to cocaine. It seems to be a polished, positive take on Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler - with Wahlberg filling Mickey Rourke's Sean Penn-beaten shoes and Amy Adams doing her best Marisa Tomei.

Interestingly enough, Aronofsky was originally attached to The Fighter, but dropped out for unknown reasons (presumably to shoot the highly buzzed about Black Swan). David O. Russell, who has wrestled two surprisingly awesome performances out of Wahlberg (Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees'), took his place - turning what could have been a gritty character study into what looks like a lukewarm underdog drama.

The Academy loves these down-and-out sports sagas (see: Million Dollar Baby). It would be nice to see Bale get some much-deserved Academy attention, even if was just in the form of a supporting actor nomination. The man is one of the most dedicated and professional (albeit, occasionally angry) actors out there. And yet, Wahlberg, who got his big break in boxer briefs, is the one who has an Oscar nod under his barely there belt.