Review: Warrior

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WarriorWhile I'm not generally a fan of sports or fight movies, writer/director Gavin O'Connor's film Warrior has made me a believer. Echoing the struggles in Rocky and The Fighter, Warrior includes more than just incredible MMA fighting action; it's an amazing character piece that tells two very different stories about brothers from a broken family and smashes their worlds back together.

People are already talking about Nick Nolte for an Oscar in this incredible role modeled after his own experiences with alcohol and substance abuse. As an estranged father who hasn't seen one of his sons for 14 years, Nolte's character has cleaned up his act but struggles to reconnect with children who hate him for the mistakes that destroyed their family. Nolte is desperate for a chance to rebuild his relationship with sons Tommy (Tom Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton), who themselves are estranged.

Tom Hardy is comfortable by now with quiet, angry roles and bulked up for his performance as Bane in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises. As Tommy Conlon, he is a soldier returned from Iraq motivated by a mysterious past. He seems to work out his anger aggressively on his opponents in the ring and constantly, silently threatens to explode outside the ring. He is hammered by his past but not beaten as he doggedly pursues the MMA title.

Brother Brendan's motives are transparent. As a former MMA fighter with little success, he is now a science teacher in a small suburban high school. Facing foreclosure on his home, he returns to fighting in a desperate bid to support his family. The physical work Joel Edgerton put in is obvious, as he transforms from a soft schoolteacher into a ripped fighting machine.

As the two brothers fight toward their inevitable confrontation, the audience is in the position of not knowing which one to support while the film dodges and feints the usual cliched tropes. Where it could easily have followed the usual pattern, Warrior instead offers surprises that elevate it above its movie-of-the-week brethren, delivering an emotional workout. By the end, it was difficult not to shed a tear.