Warrior

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Kevin Dunn, Maximiliano Hernández, Denzel Whitaker, Noah Emmerich, Kurt Angle
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
2011

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Two brothers (Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy) both compete in a huge Mixed Martial Arts tournament- while they fight their competitors, they also fight against their family history, especially with their father (Nick Nolte), who wants to make amends.

Review:

Tim: Okay, so they made an MMA movie. I don't particularly like MMA, so I had very little desire to see this film. It just does not interest me. However, I heard good things, so I finally caved in and watched. And, all I say is, wow. I am struggling to believe how great Warrior is. In a year of great films, this ranks among the very top of the mountain. I loved this movie and was blown away by the characters, the emotions, and the story. This is an incredible film.

The best sports movies transcend the sport themselves. Rocky is a boxing movie, but it's not really about boxing- it's an underdog story, a redemption story. It's a story about a man trying to be better than he is, it just happens to take place in the world of boxing. The same can be said about Warrior. Yes, it takes place in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, but it's really a story about family and redemption. This is a big reason why it's such a fantastic film.

The film focuses on two brothers, Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy. They are very, very different, and their story is cloaked in mystery. We know that they had a rough childhood, an absent, awful father in Nick Nolte. We know they are both into MMA. The story unfolds slowly, and this slow reveal maintains a strong sense of mystery throughout the duration of the film. Edgerton is a family man, a teacher, drawn back into the octagon for money, to support his family. Hardy is a force of nature, completely mysterious, his intent and his objectives unknown. These two men join the same MMA tournament, but for very different reasons. The performances of these two men greatly helped this film- they are both incredible. Edgerton is instantly likeable- he's the big underdog, the little guy that no one ever believed in, but will fight ruthlessly for his shot. He's a loving father and husband, and he's faced with great challenges in his life. As we learn his story, we're firmly on his side, rooting for him desperately. Hardy is a little harder to crack, but he's mesmerizing in his challenging, dark, unforgiving performance. He's this unstoppable force, buttoned up and walled off from the rest of the world. We might not know his story, but it is clear he has suffered greatly, and that pain is on display, despite all his efforts to conceal it. As the movie progressed, I was torn between both brothers- I'd come to love and identify with them, and I cared deeply about them both. This is perhaps the only tournament movie where I honestly cared about two participants, and couldn't fathom either one losing. That was a unique experience, and it speaks volumes about the incredible character development that takes place in this film.

While Edgerton and Hardy are fantastic, Nick Nolte gives perhaps the best performance of the film (his Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor was well deserved). He's a washed up, broken man, trying desperately to atone for his past sins, to reconnect with his sons. He is a recovering alcoholic, trying to do the right things far too late. He perfectly embodies that shell of a man who spent his life doing wrong, and at the end, is desperate for salvation. Despite his attempts, his sons are unwilling to forgive him, and the indignities he suffers are hard to watch. His performance is heartbreaking, and you feel so much for his character. He was simply amazing.

The film is set up brilliantly- we learn and care about these two brothers, and we see them join an MMA tournament. As they face their competitors, at times I felt certain they would meet in the finals, and certain one would lose before then. In short, I had no idea what to expect out of the film. I can say that I did not anticipate the end coming, and it's remarkably brilliant, emotionally draining, and so inspirational that it is hard not to cheer. The fight scenes are choreographed brilliantly, and the suspense is ratcheted up to the N-th degree. The film is an incredible achievement.

Warrior proves once again that will compelling characters, character development, and a good story, a movie about anything can be great. I would never, ever have expected to like an MMA movie, let alone call it one of the greatest sports movies ever made. This movie blew me away, and I'd consider it one of the best movies I have seen in a very, very long time. I absolutely loved this film.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Rocky, Animal Kingdom, The Dark Knight Rises