Warrior (2011)
By thisguyoverhere | September 9, 2011
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte
Directed by: Gavin O’Connor
Written by: Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis, Cliff Dorfman
Genre: Drama, Sports
Brendan (Joel Edgerton), a UFC fighter turned Physics teacher, has extricated himself from a drunken father (Nick Nolte) in order to raise a healthy and happy family. His brother Tommy (Tom Hardy), too, disowned their father and spent his adolescence tending to their dying mother. Life hasn’t been easy for these brothers, and now Brendan is faced with foreclosure on his home, and Tommy has just returned home from serving time as a Marine in the Iraq War. With little other option, both men decide to return to the ring in order to defend their livelihoods.
When a film like The Fighter becomes a critical and commercial hit (and ultimately an Award Season darling), knock-offs are inevitable. Advertisements for Warrior seemed to prey on The Fighter’s coattails, which is a shame because it paints the craftsmanship of brilliant filmmaking as pastiche when it’s anything but. Director Gavin O’Connor’s fighting drama is sheer storytelling perfection. Let’s forget for a moment that this is based on a true story, (because too often films use that as a crutch for flimsy rationalization). Deliberate care is dedicated to establishing the pathos of the characters outside of the sports arena, so that later in the film, we have something substantial to root for. Brendan puts his life on the line to provide a decent life for his daughters; and Tommy’s internal struggles, though not immediately revealed, depict a man with something to prove to himself. O’Connor’s ability to create dramatic tension without becoming overwrought is very admirable. Character motivations and relations are constant driving force, slowly reeling us in to an emotionally charged story.
Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton in Warrior (2011)
Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy are two of the most talented of the current generation of actors. Demanding physicality aside (and they are ripped in this movie), both actors have an unbreakable stranglehold on character development and execution. Their dedication is simply fearless. But the real scene stealer is veteran Nick Nolte in his depiction of the 1,000-day sober father who strives to make things right with his two sons. Nolte’s fierce performance is nothing short of breathtaking.
Archetypes or not, there is no denying that Warrior is an incredibly compelling story that puts character and story at center stage. It deftly uses the fight sequences to further the mens’ stories, gradually building the stakes until there is enough tension to fill the whole of Atlantic City. You’ll find yourself on your feet long before the credits roll.
USA. 140 minutes. Rated PG-13.
