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MMA is now one of the best combat sporting events in the world. It’s a whole lot better than boxing. I give it to Dana White, the dude will put together a fight that the people want to see. Who are some of the biggest stars in the MMA world now? I used to love Matt Hughes and GSP. Jon “Bones” Jones is an absolute beast. Who can say anything bad about Amanda Nunes? She is a straight-up BOSS! I love her style and the way she just dominates all the top opponents. There are not many MMA films, but Warrior is a film that puts some light on the sport in a gritty but excellent way.
Directed by Gavin O’Connor and written by O’Connor, Cliff Dorfman, and Anthony Tambakis, the film explores how two estranged brothers both have their reasons for entrance into a mixed martial arts tournament as they soon come to terms with their lives and past. Tommy Riordan (Hardy) returns back home to Pittsburgh, where his recovering alcoholic father, Paddy (Nolte), returns from church. Tommy has been away with the Marine Corps and ran away from home and his father, who used to be his trainer. The next day, Tommy goes to a gym to hit the heavy bag when he absolutely destroys a high prized fighter named Mad Dog. Someone records the fight, and soon it goes viral. Tommy soon learns about a winner-takes-all MMA tournament called Sparta in which the winner will receive $5 million. Tommy, with more stipulations in the world, asks his father to train him. On the other side of town, his brother, Brendan (Edgerton), a former MMA fighter and now high school teacher, is currently making ends meet trying to pay a mortgage and for his daughter’s open-heart surgery. He decides to return to the ring in an amateur setting to support his loving wife and child. After years of pain and betrayal, both brothers are bitterly estranged. With one needing the money for his family and the other with a past that he is trying to get away from and a noble reason, the two brothers will soon collide in an all-out war in the ring.
Warrior is one of those films that will make you go, “Oh damn” at some of the scenes, but one thing that most people will notice is the very, very, very familiar and played-out storyline. The whole two brothers from opposite ends of the spectrum fight or compete against each other only to see how much they genuinely care and appreciate each other in the end. This film is a little bit more gritty and violent, but it is still a story that has been seen before. With this type of movie, since there is a championship at the end, you pretty much know how things will turn out. It will be pretty predictable on how each match will end. It is not a bad thing because what makes this story work is that, for one, it is in the world of MMA. So, you know punches will be thrown, and egos will be crushed. There is nothing wrong with seeing some major ass whipping going on. With it being predictable on who will be the winner, what will surprise you is how each brother wins.
Now, what helps and makes this film are the fight scenes. I was hyped watching each one as it gave you a sense that you were watching a live-action UFC fight unfold right in front of you. What I like about the brothers fighting was you saw two completely different fighting styles in the ring. Brendan was more graceful and fluent as he trained to classical music and had a strategy for how he fought even if most of the time he got a beating before winning. Tom, on the other hand, was an absolute BEAST and MONSTER in the ring. I absolutely loved his style because he came in, the bell rang, and he just mauled his opponent with straight power, anger and ferocity. Then when the match ended, he just rushed out of the ring because he didn’t have any time to talk.
As far as the acting goes, it was extremely impressive from Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton. First, Tom Hardy as Tom Conlon. I love me some Tom Hardy and think he is a phenomenal actor. Even though he didn’t say much in this film, you could see that homeboy went through some s**t in his life. He was unhinged in the ring and seemed so distant. You see that as a soldier, he ripped the door off a tank to save his brothers in arms. You can see that he doesn’t like his dad for his abusive nature when he was younger, along with the fact that his brother stayed. Also, dude body was JACKED! Dude’s traps had muscles on top of muscles. Joel Edgerton as Brendan Conlon was equally great as the brother who has a family and fighting for them. You can tell his heart is in the right place, and the dude is a high school teacher, but like most of these movies, them bills come up, and sometimes you gotta get back in the ring and pay those bills. I like his character because he is doing it for a good reason and trying to be a way better father and husband than his dad.
I want to take some time to say that the one performance that was absolutely strong and needs to be commended is Nick Nolte as Paddy Conlon. Paddy is a man who has made tremendous mistakes in his life by being an alcoholic and abusive. He has changed his ways and trying to reconnect with sons who want nothing to do with him. They absolutely seemed to dislike him. When Tom comes back and asks his dad to train him, he was cold and laid down some harsh rules. Even when the tournament happened, Tom didn’t see how hard he worked to stay off the bottle only to let his frustration out on him. Brendan growing up with his father, keeps his distance from him as he wants to be far better than his dad ever was. Yet, this father is caught in the middle of the animosity between the two brothers and towards him. Nolte, with such presence, delivers on a strong performance as he tries to communicate his regret and pain through attempts to reconcile with his sons without ever raising his voice and taking their tongue lashings. I applaud you, Nick Nolte.
Let’s give director Gavin O’Connor a quick shout-out also. I was hesitant to watch this film because I was like, “This is going to be another boring MMA movie that is beyond cliché.” O’Connor not only showed a gritty MMA movie, but he also told a story that pitted two brothers against each other who have some serious family issues. O’Connor made this film engaging and truly a joy to watch with his direction.
Warrior is one of those films that might surprise you. It has a solid cast that gives strong performances. Hardy, Edgerton, and Nolte do a fantastic job with their performances. The story might be a little repetitive compared to other films with two brothers fighting in an MMA tournament, but it does a decent job of bringing you in with a satisfying conclusion. This film will leave you on the edge of your seat with each fight.
