Warrior: Review By Bawnian©-Dexeus

Warrior is a 2011 American action drama film about mixed martial arts.

Directed by: Gavin O'Connor.

Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison and Frank Grillo.

A former Marine and a Chemistry teacher compete in a world of mixed martial arts (MMA) for the grand prize, where the two main characters have conflicting, relatable pasts.

I remember a movie, a classic, which told the story of an underdog, fighting against all odds, against a public that saw him as an unfit fighter, that though he didn't triumph, won the respect of his doubters. Yes, I remember such a film; it was Rocky. Such a great movie that one might not expect it to be considered second best to a modern telling of not just one, but two fighters fighting for their goals. Yup, I'm talking about Warrior, which delivers more emotion, driven characters, and grand notable performances by it's trio of strong male leads.

I wouldn't blame anyone whom before seeing this epic speculated on it being released after 2010's The Fighter. While there really isn't much originality, there are at times when you take the same parts from a previous model, no matter how newer or older it may be, you might surprise yourself at the ending result. The Fighter, while I may have seen snippets of, only has one thing that actually, in my opinion, made it Oscar like, and that was Christian Bale. Warrior doesn't depend on just a single actor to wow the critics. It depends on the relationship between siblings and their past transgressions, and a father trying to rekindle his broken shards through their eyes. I may be contradicting exactly some of the same points of The Fighter, but I you can challenge me on that later.

While I have only seen exactly two scenes of Bronson, this for me is the first time, other than Inception that I get to see Tom Hardy in action. No doubt that his acting abilities show sufficient proof of his place in the entertainment industry. We have seen how this man can change his physical appearance by the snap of a finger for any movie role. Bulk up, bulk down, and bulk up again. Kind of like Christian Bale. You know what I mean. Bale has gone from bone skinny to mildly healthy to bear size over the years or in vise versa. And in comes the underdog, Joel Edgerton, both figuratively and literally. Never heard of the man up until the movie's release. I looked him up, and did you know that he was a part of the Star Wars prequels? Young Owen Lars and of course that Hugo Croop dude from Smokin' Aces. You may have seen his face but not recognize him by name. Personally, I'm glad the man is booming. He's been part of an outstanding film this past year and will be part of The Thing prequel cast, and the Great Gatsby.

What always gets to me upon watching movies like these are when families with kids are involved. The lead character has something to loose and goes through great lengths to achieve success for their future. And then we have the black sheep of the family, a distant wanderer seeking gold to support the same goals, but siblings not of his own blood. So when you think about it, both fighters are clearly battling for the same cause, yet again, one has much more to lose than charity work. What's more interesting is the costume selection for Hardy's and Edgerton's characters. Hardy is represented, again, as the dark knight vs Edgerton as the white knight. Ying and Yang; Good vs Evil; Light vs Darkness; or brothers at war. While the white knight protects his family, the dark knight seeks vengeance. Yes, revenge. Why you ask? Abandonment. Forced to watch his beloved mother die in his hands because of his older brother abandoning him to be with his good for nothing drunk ass father. Tragic really. It's that kind of real life moment most of us have witnessed or gone through.

The fights in this movie were top notch. Not a single second was wasted displaying Edgerton's character inside the diamond ring. Some shaky camera movement, yes, but gives you that real feel to it. The sound department really did a great job emphasizing the punches, tackles, and pile drivers. We got to see a former WWE "fighter" Kurt Angle taking the role of Russian Superstar Koba. I'm surprised they didn't choose Randy Coture for the role, but in reality, the forty plus year old can literally chew both lead characters alive without breaking a sweat; no one would buy it. I was a little surprised that they gave Hardy such power to end his matches in less than a minute, but in my opinion, the character is a Marine. Before becoming a Seal, a Marine is practically the most dangerous warrior on earth. The Ending battle between Hardy and Edgerton was the best I have seen between two opposing forces in the last decade. Emotional and heart stopping. If you are the type that easily tears up, than expect a hurricane. And I'm also glad they didn't continue telling the story after that. It leaves you guessing. So please, for the love of God, leave it at that. Don't go The Fighter on me and think of making it the new Rocky.

The Actors:

Tom Hardy: Great job with a nomination to boot. I don't expect a win, but a definite nomination. His physicality gives us a preview of what he has in store for us as Bane.

Nick Nolte: First and only time I have seen this actor perform was in 2003's Hulk. Didn't even know who he was back then. Regardless, the man gave a very powerful performance with his relationship as Hardy's father. I couldn't help but think about my father at this point in the movie. Father's are the one who train us in every sense of the word. They prepare us to fill in their shoes. They won't last us forever. The way Hardy's character renounces his father's attempt to rekindle their relationship really hit me hard at the heart. I had the same bout with my dad during high school. We're good now, but it was the first time I had ever attacked him verbally. Back to Nolte, a stunning performance and worthy of another nomination and a possible win.

Overall:

Fantastic surprise of this year. Highly recommended.

Written by: Bawnian©-Dexeus.