Warrior Review

Warrior Review

Sports movies are by far the most generic cliche genre of film because no matter what you know that the underdog is going to come out a winner, and that he or she will face an unbeatable opponent and/or insurmountable odds. Bad sports movies remind us constantly that this inevitability is going to happen. Bad sports films don't leave us on the edge of our seat wondering if our protagonist will win or not. On the other hand, great sports movies transcend these cliches, they ignore or rise above them. They make the movie about something else, and then, even though we know the hero is going to win, we still sit on the edge of our seat, and we still cheer for them in the end. Warrior is one of the great ones.

One of the strengths of the movie is that it has a two pronged approach. Warrior is a unique movie going experience because we have two heroes, two underdog characters who must overcome adversity to achieve success. Tommy (played with burning ferocity by Tom Hardy) is a war hero, he served in Iraq where he saw heavy combat. He has returned home and is beginning to put his life back in order. Brendan (played by Joel Edgerton) is a teacher and family man. His day to day struggles are how to put food on the table, and keep the foreclosure notice off his door. Tommy and Brendan are also brothers, estranged and separated by their choices. Both men are fighting for different reasons, both men have nothing to loose, and both men are fighting the demons of their past.

The demon of their past is of course their father Paddy (played but Nick Nolte). Paddy was a violent and vicious alcoholic who now in recovery is trying desperately to rebuild the broken relationships with his sons. Nolte is spectacular as the somewhat pathetic Paddy. His performance is deep and nuanced, and while we never feel he deserves to be forgiven, you do hope that he and his sons reconnect in some way. I would not be surprised if Nolte isn't recognized this awards season for his portrait of a broken man struggling to put right the sins of his past.

Also of note is the performance of Tom Hardy. Hardy is quickly becoming known for his physique as much as his talent, and here he shows off both. Hardy plays Tommy as a man burning on the inside, full of rage and hate. Outside of the arena Tommy struggles with his relationships, not knowing who to trust. Inside the arena Tommy instantly overwhelms his opponents with unbelievable power. Hardy spends much of the movie looking like an angry bulldog, ready to brutalize anyone or anything that comes near him. 

Through varying twists of fate both men find themselves in SPARTA, a Mixed Martial Arts competition that is much hyped because of its five million dollar payout. I don't know much about MMA, but the film does a great job of teaching us about it. You certainly don't need to be experts or super fans to appreciate or understand the film. Each fight that occurs on their journey is suspenseful and exciting despite the fact that we know the two brothers eventually make the finals (if you think that is a spoiler don't watch the trailer). The two brothers with their contentious past must face off in the most brutal and violent sport that has ever been. Despite being built up It is here, where the two must face off that the movie lost me. It didn't lose me completely, but the last twenty or so minutes seem incredibly anti climactic. We as an audience are asked to root for both characters for so long through out the movie, that when we have to pick a side it is nearly impossible. Who do you root for, the man who fights to regain his honor, or the man who fights to support his family. Compound that with the fact that both men are brothers and personally I would have rather seen them hug it out rather than slug it out.

Overall the movie is a real and honest look at the relationships between brothers of blood, brothers of fraternity, fathers and sons, and of course combatants. The movie takes a brutal and violent sport and humanizes it, making us see the warriors in the ring as men instead of just gladiators.