Warrior is a superbly acted and emotional film about manhood, family and never submitting to life’s beat downs.
There are certain movies which can make the hardest of hard man shed a tear. Rocky, Field of Dreams, Rudy…the list goes on yet the themes are the same. It’s about stepping up, duking it out and never giving up on what is important in life.
Enter Warrior, the latest film from director Gavin O’Connor who previously gave us ice hockey drama Miracle and cop thriller Pride & Glory. The film focuses on estranged brothers Brendan (Joel Edgerton) and Tommy (Tom Hardy) who come face to face as competitors in a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) tournament which has a purse of $5 million.
Like all great fight movies, it isn’t the action sequences that makes Warrior such an excellent watch. This is as good a drama as it is an action movie, with characters worth caring about and performances that are among the year’s best.
That last part shouldn’t be a surprise, considering O’Connors knack for drawing great performances from his actors. In Edgerton and Hardy he has tapped into two burgeoning talents sure to be in demand leading men in a few years.
Edgerton superbly plays the part of the underdog and family man, who faces bankruptcy due to the harsh economic climate. Hardy counters with an equally brilliant turn as a hulking mass of muscle and anger, exorcising demons in the cage while pummelling his opponents.
Then there is the legendary Nick Nolte, turning in a late career scene stealer as the father whose alcohol fuelled abusive past caused a schism within his family. His is a pitiful and sympathetic portrayal that will break hearts and hopefully remind award voters of his great talent.
But let’s not forget the obvious: Warrior is a fight film, and O’Connor makes sure his audience feels every punch to the face, slam to the mat and submission hold, getting into the cage with his well-trained actors who do a great job in feigning beating the crap out of each other.
There are clichés abound, yet they are handled well and made anew. In particular is a training montage which O’Connor makes his own with some nifty, albeit dizzying slit screen action. And even though we know the brothers will fight (thanks to the spoiler filled trailer), it doesn’t take away from the tension and the drama which O’Connor creates.
Warrior is a man-ly film with as much heart as there is grit. Top contender for movie of the year. |