Warrior centres around a rivalry between two estranged brothers, the younger a marine haunted by his past and the older an unlikely professional fighter who puts his body on the line to financially sustain his family. Tom Hardy plays the younger, gifted brother Tom Conlon with an admirable intensity, while Joel Edgerton lends a dogged realism to his role as Brendan, older brother and dark horse in the winner-take-all mixed martial arts competition that both brothers participate in. Complicating the imminent collision course even further is Nick Nolte as Paddy Conlon, their conflicted, alcoholic stepfather.
Both script and acting are generally impeccable, and buoy the necessarily predictable trajectory of the film’s plot. MMA fans are bound to be pleased at both the authenticity of the fight choreography, as well as the way the protaganists’ divergent styles reflect their personality, with Tom employing an explosive, strike-first-ask-questions-later mentality that reflects his character`s intensity, while Brendan’s shoot fighting and submission tendencies in line with his dogged, methodical personality.
More impressive than the brawling, however, is the deft touch that O’Connor employs in juggling all three characters and their complex relationships with each other. The result is a film that is unapologetically emotional, compellingly real and genuinely cathartic from start to finish.
Warrior doesn’t traverse any ground that films of its genre have already trodden, and there are certain moments that verge on the formulaic. Before you can protest, however, Warrior gets a firm grip on your emotions, wrestles them to the ground, and puts them in a reverse arm bar until you submit to its excellence of execution.
SUMMARY: Winner by TKO
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Raphael Lim