Warrior
Most sport films follow a very clear formula wherein the underdog(s) will somehow manage to overcome both their personal issues and the much tougher antagonist person or sporting team. ‘Warrior’ follows this in some respects, however it also manages to avoid a lot of clichés associated with that genre. The film came out in 2011 and starred Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte. It was directed by Gavin O’Connor. The film is a tense rollercoaster that pits brother against brother in a battle as brutal emotionally as it is physically.
Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime, within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Haunted by his tragic past, Tommy Riordan (Tom Hardy) returns to his home in Pittsburgh and enlists his father Paddy Conlon (Nick Nolte), an ex-alcoholic and his old coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the largest prize money in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan Conlon (Joel Edgerton), a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a school teacher, returns to the amateur ring during the nights to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, blames and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.
The film is brilliant in that it makes the audience genuinely divided as to which brother they side with. Tommy is an Ex-Marine in the U.S. Army, who will donate all of his winnings to the family of one of his fallen comrades, an honourable and selfless decision. Meanwhile Brendan needs the money to prevent his family from being evicted from their home. Both brothers have a genuine and valid reason for entering the competition. This means that neither of them are technically the protagonist or the antagonist of the film, which means that on repeat viewings you can side with a different brother and have a whole different experience.
The fighting in the film is also quite amazing. Both Hardy and Edgerton received actual training for 3 months prior to filming, and did the majority of their stunts. The choreography is great and you will feel every single punch Brendan and Tommy receive throughout the film. Fans of MMA may be able to pick some holes in the fighting but most of it holds up to criticism as it was designed by actual fighters. The fights never get boring and even though you know who will inevitably have to win, there is always that doubt in the back of your mind.
The acting in this film is solid. Tommy is supposed to be a traumatised and tragic figure, and Hardy is able to showcase this perfectly. Edgerton as Brendan is fantastic, he has great chemistry with his family and the students he teaches. At times I forgot that he was an actor because of how genuine he felt. Nolte however is truly amazing in this film. He has to play a father who due to his own mistakes has been estranged from both sons, and now that they have both re-entered his life, he must witness them clawing away at each other knowing that he is completely helpless to stop it all. It truly is heartbreaking and he couldn’t possibly have been any better.
The film is an amazing sports movie. There is so much going on to keep people interested. It lends itself to repeat viewings, and it has genuine tension and stakes. You will at times find yourself afraid that your chosen brother will lose their next fight, your palms will be sweaty and you’ll be on the edge of your seat.
Score 8.5/10