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| Rocky Balboa, pictured before the sequels robbed him of any credibility |
There is something emotionally gratifying in watching two guys beat each other to a pulp, that is what I assume anyway. There have been numerous films based around the sport of boxing which has established itself firmly as a genre that can produce classic movies (Think Rocky and Raging bull), which has now propelled mixed martial arts onto the big screen. There have been a couple of terrible efforts in the past to make a film based around MMA, I distinctly remember Channing Tatum being in one. However this is the first to boast a highly talented cast, which they have in Tom Hardy (Bronson, The Dark Knight Rises), Joel Edgerton (The Thing) and Nick Nolte (48 Hours, Hotel Rwanda).
Directed and written by Gavin 'O Connor; Warrior tells us the story of two brothers, both former MMA fighters, and how through a strange series of circumstances they both end up stepping back in the ring (Its more of a cage really) for a huge tournament where the two end up having to face each other, whilst the pairs estranged father attempts to reconcile his relationship with his sons.
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| Nick Nolte listening to the latest Pussycat Dolls album. |
Now as this is a film we can try and skirt around the ridiculous amount of coincidences that lead to the pair fighting in the equivalent of the world championships of MMA having both being out of the game, and out of contact, for many years. Tom Hardy is fantastic as Tommy, a clearly troubled former soldier, his demeanor as a distant and haunted man is nothing short of fascinating to watch. If anything this leaves Brendon (Joel Edgerton) as a bit of a straight man in this bloody Laurel and Hardy partnership. He is supposed to be the Rocky we are all cheering for, yet it is Tommy you feel more emotionally attatched too and if not Tommy then their recovering alcoholic dad (Played by Nick Nolte) is the one we end up being more interested in. The script is quite solid up until the rather predictable ending which kind of spoiled the whole thing for me, especially in the manner it was done. The direction as a whole is good, though doesn't garner any huge amount of praise. One thing I will praise about this film is the immensely high quality of the fight scenes, the choreography is superb. You really get in and around the action, which is displayed in a sometimes brutal and sometimes elegant glory which really sums up the two extremes of the sport and the characters of Tommy and Brendan, respectively.
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| I look like that topless, Honest. |
In Conclusion. I have to say that Warrior is a film I would reccomend, it reaches for greatness and falls a bit short. Though there is nothing wrong with that, it still beats a lot of the crap out there in the big wide world, and between Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, and the big, bad, fight scenes; there is plenty to like. The ending may not dissapoint others as much as me but I did feel really let down that a film I had followed with such interest all the way through unravelled the way it did. The film is driven by emotion and the (Pardon the homosexuality of this statement) power of love between brothers. The film balances this, until the ending, when it overreaches. Anyway you may feel different (The one person who reads my blog......which is me.....Hey Alex, your a cool guy :) Yeh!) Anyway you may prefer it too me.
If Warrior was a lager - Stella Artios, A good standard, though not one of the best in its field. Also fitting considering the violence.
Til Next time :)
