Warrior (2011)

Far from the mindless, macho mediocrity that a mixed-martial arts film suggests, Gavin O’Connor’s sincere film pulls no punches, and gives other fighting films a serious run for their money.

Tom Hardy (still enjoying one of the most successful career breakthroughs in recent memory) plays anguished Tommy Conlon - an ex-marine, who enters a mixed-martial arts tournament, with his father as his coach. Tommy’s father, Paddy (Nick Nolte), is an ex-alcoholic, whose kids ran away from him when they were younger, along with their mother, in order to escape the abuse he gave them. This estrangement comes to an end when Tommy turns up on his father’s door, still angry with him, but knowing that only his father’s strict form of coaching can get him through this tournament.

Meanwhile, Tommy’s brother Brendan (Joel Edgerton), is living a life as a science teacher, but barely making the payments on his house, and begins moonlighting in car park wrestling matches to make extra cash. This extracurricular activity lands Brendan with a suspension from his job, forcing him to enter the same tournament as Tommy in order to win the cash prize.

Whilst the film takes on a typical structure for a fighting film (there is a montage, albeit quite a strange one, as well as the usual round-for-round match up as the brothers inevitably look like they will fight in the final), the essence of Warrior is a step above movies of this genre. There is a deeply disturbing relationship between these three men, who all have their grudges and secrets, which is the foundation for the film. Hardy’s portrayal of this animalistic fighting machine is utterly brilliant, providing any audience with enough proof of his worth as an actor.

All three main performances are excellent, as well as Jennifer Morrison as Brendan’s wife.

Many will probably ignore this film, because it looks like a modern day Rocky, but this is a superior film because it delves deep into these characters and their situation, leaving the fighting as an inevitable side-effect of their broken home.

A remarkable film.