The devil you know, is better than the devil you don't know
Directed by: Gavin O'Connor
Run time: 140 min
So how do you make a movie about fighting that must defy all cliches? Apparently Gavin O'Connor has raised the bar. Although it has a training montage but not accompanied with cheesy songs and the premise is amazing. Usually we root for one main character who has to fight his way (including the disposable two dimensional opponent) but here we root for two main characters who has to fight each other. We don't want them to get hurt but there has to be a winner.
I am familiar with Mixed Martial Arts shows, in fact I used to be a fan of it. This film is not about the quest for a title or rags to riches but it is about the conflict inside human heart that got materialized in a brutal fighting inside the cage.
All three main characters are broken. Estranged brothers Tom and Brendan Conlon (Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton) and their father, Paddy (Nick Nolte) has to cross path after so many years not seeing each other.
Tom visited his father after so many years. Apparently Paddy was a drunk s.o.b back then, his wife moved out with Tom and lost contact with Paddy and Brendan. Tom asked Paddy to train him for the upcoming Mixed Martial Arts, profesionally, putting aside all his hatred but doesn't mean forgiving him. As of this point the viewers doesn't know why Tommy wanted to enter the competition.
Meanwhile Brendan is facing a problem of his own. He is about to save his house from foreclosure, cannot pay for his daughter medical bill and got suspended without pay from the school he used to teach in since he is involved in some illegal fighting scene. Seeing no option, he too wanted to enter the competition.
It takes no genius to figure that in the end it is the brothers who have to face each other literally and figuratively. Nick Nolte is amazing as a regretful father trying to mend his past mistakes. Tom and Edgerton are also believable in conveying their deepest grudges and sadness. Several acting nominations at the Oscar is waiting for this film.
The first half is very effective for building up the tension in the fighting arena and the fighting is near realistic, although there are less blood on the screen due to the PG-13 rating. Slightly better than The Fighter, Warrior is powerful and disturbing but at the same time; very human.
Run time: 140 min
So how do you make a movie about fighting that must defy all cliches? Apparently Gavin O'Connor has raised the bar. Although it has a training montage but not accompanied with cheesy songs and the premise is amazing. Usually we root for one main character who has to fight his way (including the disposable two dimensional opponent) but here we root for two main characters who has to fight each other. We don't want them to get hurt but there has to be a winner.
I am familiar with Mixed Martial Arts shows, in fact I used to be a fan of it. This film is not about the quest for a title or rags to riches but it is about the conflict inside human heart that got materialized in a brutal fighting inside the cage.
All three main characters are broken. Estranged brothers Tom and Brendan Conlon (Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton) and their father, Paddy (Nick Nolte) has to cross path after so many years not seeing each other.
Tom visited his father after so many years. Apparently Paddy was a drunk s.o.b back then, his wife moved out with Tom and lost contact with Paddy and Brendan. Tom asked Paddy to train him for the upcoming Mixed Martial Arts, profesionally, putting aside all his hatred but doesn't mean forgiving him. As of this point the viewers doesn't know why Tommy wanted to enter the competition.
Meanwhile Brendan is facing a problem of his own. He is about to save his house from foreclosure, cannot pay for his daughter medical bill and got suspended without pay from the school he used to teach in since he is involved in some illegal fighting scene. Seeing no option, he too wanted to enter the competition.
It takes no genius to figure that in the end it is the brothers who have to face each other literally and figuratively. Nick Nolte is amazing as a regretful father trying to mend his past mistakes. Tom and Edgerton are also believable in conveying their deepest grudges and sadness. Several acting nominations at the Oscar is waiting for this film.
The first half is very effective for building up the tension in the fighting arena and the fighting is near realistic, although there are less blood on the screen due to the PG-13 rating. Slightly better than The Fighter, Warrior is powerful and disturbing but at the same time; very human.
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