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The National Board of Review, an organization of more than 100 film critics and historians, has picked the made-in-Cambridge Facebook flick “The Social Network” as its top movie of the year.

Wahlberg has wanted to do a boxing film for a long time now. He says he’s been training for 4 1/2 years. That meant up to eight hours a day in the gym and in the ring he built in his backyard for an earlier boxing movie that fell through.

Dickie Eklund, the half-brother and trainer of Lowell slugger “Irish” Micky Ward, was once famous for fighting “Sugar” Ray Leonard and being the first to knock him down. Then came drugs and prison as fame took a dark turn. But no matter his transgressions, Eklund is known as one of the toughest boxers the Mill City — home to the annual New England Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions — ever produced.

Christian Bale has played real-life figures before, but in the effusive Mr. Eklund, Mr. Bale had for the first time a living, breathing model before his eyes, and one with highly distinctive mannerisms and speech patterns to boot. Mr. Eklund showed Mr. Bale around his old haunts in Lowell, while the actor took notes and recorded conversations. Mr. Russell pointed out that Mr. Bale’s task involved far more than mimicry. “Dicky has a whole rhythm to him, a music,” he said. “Christian had to understand how his mind works.”

You can talk about world championships and gaudy leather and diamond-encrusted belts all you want, but if you hit someone in the face for pay while trying to avoid him returning the favor, you want to get well paid for it. For most of his 17-year career, Micky Ward wasn’t, which is what has made his life a movie and why a movie has been made about his life, or at least the portion of it that ended on March 11, 2000, the night he won the World Boxing Union light welterweight (140 pound) title from a Brit from Merseyside, Liverpool, named Shea Neary.

Lowell’s Rich Farrell, 52, has a cameo acting role in “The Fighter” — as documentary filmmaker Rich Farrell. But his life may soon get marquee treatment as his autobiography, “What’s Left of Us,” has been optioned by the film’s producers.

Looks like the low-budget, indie film “Fairhaven’’ is on its way. The movie, which is being helmed by Medford native Tom O’Brien, will start pre-production next week. Shooting will begin in January, which means that stars Rosemarie DeWitt (of “Mad Men’’ and the soon-to-be-released Boston film “The Company Men’’), Chris Messina (of “Julie & Julia’’), and Brad William Henke (of “Lost’’) will soon be around town.

Roll out the red carpet. Lowell has landed a premiere showing of the highly anticipated Micky Ward biopic The Fighter on Thursday, Dec. 9th, one day before the movie hits theaters nationwide. The premiere will take place at Showcase Cinemas at 7:30 p.m. A reception will be held before the screening at the Courtyard by Marriott, 30 Industrial Avenue East, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Proceeds from the reception will benefit Team Micky Ward Charities and the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Riverwolf Productions had transformed an Amherst home into the set for its December episode of “Lights Up,” a half-hour satirical sketch-comedy show that filters the world through a youthful perspective. The December episode of “Lights Up,” the company’s second television series, will air on Amherst Community Television (ACTV) on Monday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.

Boston Casting, which works in films, commercials and reality TV, is offering a solution: a four-week “Boston accent reduction” class. Owner Angela Peri had been mulling the class for years, because her own accent prevented her from getting work as an actress.

Filmmaker and playwright Lorenzo DeStefano stumbled upon the story of Arthur Inman when he read a book review of “The Inman Diary.” He was immediately fascinated with the two-volume distillation of the hypochondriacal and reclusive Boston man’s handwritten, 155-volume, 17 million-word diaries that spanned his life from age 8 until he killed himself at age 68. Now, eight years later, he’s scouting Boston for an upcoming feature-film adaptation, a black comedy starring British actor John Hurt as Inman.

The house on Woodcock Lane features an open, modern layout with floor-to-ceiling glass creating a boundary-less Zen-like, one-with-nature experience. There is an atrium with an indoor pool as well as a waterfall just as you enter the foyer.

WCVB-TV Channel 5invites filmmakers and not-for-profit organizations to participate in the “Boston7DAYPSA” contest, a competition challenging production teams to produce broadcast-quality public service announcements for deserving local human service agencies.

November 6: Support and celebrate filmmaking in the Berkshires at Berkshire Media and Film Commission’s first annual Gala benefit, “The Magic of Movie Making,” on November 6 from 7:30 p.m. to midnight at the Masonic Temple, 116 South Street, Pittsfield. The fun-filled and unique event will include a live film production with renowned Berkshire filmmakers, a silent auction featuring items from Karen Allen, Elizabeth Banks, Frank Miller and James Taylor, signature cocktails, bountiful hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and a lively dance party. Festive attire is suggested. Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased online at www.berkshirefilm.com, by sending a check to BFMC, P.O. Box 323, Great Barrington, MA 01230, or by placing a credit card phone order with Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation at 413.229.0370.

Boston continues to grow as a prime location for movies to set their stories and shoot their scenes. From crime thrillers to comedies, and legendary directors to up-and-coming stars, the streets of Boston continue to be walked on by the best of the best. And with the abundance of high quality films being produced here, it’s no surprise that the city continues to pave the way for more cinematic possibilities.

Twister’s final site selection involved a reconnaissance trip about a week-and-a-half before the shoot. Olivia Mausel, a member of Holyoke’s Historical Commission, gave Clark and Williams a tour of several sites in the city: the Victory Theatre, warehouses owned by Curran Construction and the building that houses the Paper City Brewing Co.

Movie fans have bookmarked the Facebook drama “The Social Network’’ as their weekend favorite. David Fincher’s made-in-Massachusetts saga about personality clashes and legal feuds among the website’s founders took in $15.5 million to remain the No. 1 film for a second straight weekend, according to studio estimates yesterday. “The Social Network’’ became the third Bay State flick since 2007–and the second of 2010–to top the US box-office chart for two consecutive weeks. “Shutter Island” (Feb 2010) and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” (Jan 2009) achieved the same feat.

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has the slogan “It’s all here,” hoping to draw visitors to the commonwealth. But for Cindy Lentol, that registered trademark also perfectly describes her career as an actress and model. She does not need to go to Hollywood to find work — it’s all here. “I’ve made a great living right here,” Lentol said.

“Do the Right Thing’’ director Spike Lee was at BU yesterday, where he talked about life, work, and the way films can effect social change.

Brad Pitt hit Lansdowne Street yesterday to film scenes for “Moneyball” – but if the script stays true to the book, the Boston Red Sox will not look as good onscreen as the Hollywood uber hunk!