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Warrior review
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A thrilling MMA showcase and a compelling drama

It is tempting to refer to Warrior as the "Rocky of MMA," but that label is not entirely accurate. Although the movie is an underdog story set in Pennsylvania's working-class milieu, the script in no way resembles Sylvester Stallone's Oscar-winning 1976 drama in terms of the narrative or the thematic content. Directed by Gavin O'Connor (2008's Pride and Glory), who co-wrote the screenplay with Anthony Tambakis (his first writing credit) and Cliff Dorfman (Entourage), this MMA-flavoured drama executes familiar genre tropes with sincerity and emotional depth, resulting in a hard-hitting, poignant sports movie that is difficult to forget. Powerful and engaging, Warrior provides an honest and uncompromising depiction of the consequences of alcoholism, the hardships of family estrangement, and the difficulties of forgiveness and facing one's demons. With thrilling fight scenes and compelling drama, the film is a terrific showcase for MMA while also remaining accessible to viewers who do not follow the sport.


A United States Marine, Tommy Riordan (Tom Hardy) returns to his hometown in Pittsburgh, where he visits his father, recovering alcoholic Paddy (Nick Nolte). Tommy left town as a kid with his dying mother to escape from the abusive Paddy, and he still resents his father, who is desperate to redeem himself after turning to Catholicism. Attending a local MMA gym, Tommy viciously beats one of the world's best middleweight fighters, and the video of the fight becomes a viral sensation. Learning of a prestigious winner-takes-all MMA tournament called Sparta that offers a $5 million cash prize, Tommy asks Paddy to help him train, but only on the condition that he does not try to repair their relationship.

Also living in Pittsburgh is Tommy's brother, Brendan Conlon (Joel Edgerton), who also despises Paddy and has not seen Tommy in decades. A high school physics teacher and former professional fighter, Brendan struggles to support his wife (Jennifer Morrison) and their daughters. Unless his finances improve, Brendan will lose his house in three months. Brendan tries to make extra money by competing in amateur fights, but his secret life reaches the disapproving school board, leading to his suspension without pay. Desperate to save his family from financial ruin, Brendan turns to fighting full-time, relying on his old friend Frank Campana (Frank Grillo) to train him. Brendan soon convinces his coach to enter him in the Sparta tournament, where he faces not only Tommy but also a ruthless, undefeated Russian wrestler named Koba (Kurt Angle).


Although several rudimentary narrative components are pure clichรฉ, the screenplay avoids the tritest and most predictable outcomes while ensuring the material never feels hokey, making Warrior feel more like an independent film than a mainstream Hollywood creation. There is limited mileage that filmmakers can wring out of underdog stories involving combat sports, but Warrior doubles down on the premise and provides something different by centring on two rank outsiders who meet head-to-head in the life-changing climactic bout, and adding the familial connection results in staggering emotional depth. Additionally, with the film involving two dramatically compelling protagonists, Warrior leaves viewers genuinely torn about who to root for; consequently, even though virtually every sports film leads to a climactic battle, Warrior's climax is unlike most of its genre predecessors. However, some parts of the picture admittedly feel too manufactured and Hollywoodised, such as Principal Zito (Kevin Dunn) passionately following the tournament and joining the students to cheer on Brendan despite disapproving of the teacher turning to MMA.

Warrior is more about the human drama than the fights, but O'Connor does not disappoint whenever the characters enter the cage. With Hardy and Edgerton undergoing rigorous training to learn how to fight, the action scenes look tremendously authentic and carry a visceral punch. The fighters also adopt distinctly different fighting styles, with Tommy aiming to knock out an opponent with a single punch while Brendan's approach is more methodical and strategic, taking punches while the other fighter grows exhausted and vulnerable. Thanks to the superlative fight choreography and the emotional investment in the characters, a sense of almost unbearable tension pervades the MMA brawls. Koba represents another tense obstacle for the characters to overcome, and his inclusion adds another worthy fighter to the mix, resulting in some extraordinary scuffles. However, the standout fight is between Brendan and Tommy due to its emotional resonance, with Brendan desperate to reconcile while Tommy remains stoic and stubborn. O'Connor's ability to create a touching and satisfying finale in the context of a boxing match - without resorting to hugs or speeches - is a testament to the exceptional filmmaking. (The use of the song About Today over the final moments is also note-perfect.) Even the obligatory training montages before the tournament are well-executed and visually engaging. Furthermore, Masanobu Takayanagi's grainy handheld cinematography adds visual personality and grit, and it is easy to follow the action in the ring despite the camera's inherent shakiness.


Complementing the flawless technical craftsmanship are the incredible performances, with the trio of Hardy, Edgerton and Nolte significantly contributing to the feature's emotional power. Hardy gives Tommy a no-bullshit and often callous attitude to overshadow the scars of the past, with palpable rage seething beneath a seemingly impenetrable shell, and he is astonishingly convincing as an MMA fighter. (Hardy actually won a Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition in 2022 after secretly entering.) Edgerton, meanwhile, emanates movie-star charisma, effortlessly embodying a loving father, a dedicated teacher, and a skilled MMA fighter. When Hardy and Edgerton first share a scene on the eve of the tournament, the results are electrifying. As the broken father of the two boys, Nolte earned a well-deserved Academy Award nomination for his nuanced, heartbreaking performance as a broken, recovering alcoholic who genuinely tries his best but struggles to atone for his tragic past. An ideal role for the aging performer, Nolte ably conveys intense hurt and frustration in response to his sons' unwillingness to give him the second chance he sorely craves. Other terrific names fill out the ensemble, with Jennifer Morrison (most notable for TV's House M.D. and Once Upon a Time) bringing passion and heart to the role of Brendan's conflicted wife, while the always reliable Frank Grillo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, End of Watch) is full of charm and personality as Brendan's dedicated coach. The script also gives Grillo's role some fascinating personality traits, as he uses classical music (namely Beethoven) as a training tool.

Despite clocking in at a sizeable 140 minutes, Warrior does not feel overlong or unnecessarily lengthy. Instead of leaving viewers wanting to check their watches, the picture emotionally engulfs you, and O'Connor's robust pacing, along with the compelling performances, ensures that boredom never sets in. One of 2011's best and most essential films (it is superior to all of the year's Best Picture nominees), Warrior has lost none of its potency or poignancy, and it deserves to continue finding an audience on home video after its tragic failure at the box office.

9.0/10
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Added by PvtCaboose91
1 week ago on 28 November 2024 15:55