Warrior Movie Review 2011

Director and writer Gavin O' Connor must have seen the success and positive reception that came with fighting movies over the past few years.

The fighter, The wrestler and maybe going too far back but the blatent obvious, Rocky saga.
For those unnaware of Gavin O' Connor, his last movie "Pride and Glory" (2008) starred Edward Norton and Colin Farrell. It got a positive reception, I found it mediocre.

Warrior starring Joel Edgerton (King Arthur) as Brendan Conlon; a high school teacher supporting two kids. Brendan, a successful wrestler in the past soon struggles to make ends meat as he is faced with the possibility of Bankruptcy.

On the other hand, Brendan's younger brother Tommy (Tom Hardy) is the complete opposite; abandoned by Brendan as a kid, the consequences of come back to haunt Brendan when the brothers meet again 12 years later; through their alcoholic father Paddy Conlon (Nick Nolte).

Paddy is portrayed as a depressive character with a boxing past as well as alcoholic problems. He is deeply hated by both brothers for his lack of support when they were kids, as well as his ungrateful attitude when his former wife and mother of the family was sick.

They say when family collide it is always brutal and in this case, it is. When both brothers hear of an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) competition offering the biggest purse in the history of the sport to the winner, it is indeed by accident the Conlon brothers apply for the same competition.

The perception of Tommy gives off a disturbed past we get to know little about, only his desire to win the commpetition and will destroy anything in his way to pursue it.

On the other hand, Brendan (Edgerton) is mind-set on the prize money but also the safety of his brother as the film slowly develops each characters personalities, blending a concept of mixed emotions, focusing on the will and desire of who wants it more.

A hard hitting drama that I wont say packs a punch, cliche'? but is definitley a movie in its own catagory. Tom Hardy and Joel Egderton were made for the role. Nick Nolte brings his fine acting to the movie and once you hear that voice struggling to get out from the bottom of his juicy throat, you just know something serious is going down!

Overall; Warrior is an all round fantastic movie focusing on the ever growing sport of MMA. A movie not just for fight fans (which I think is Men...mostly!) but for everyone who enjoys a good story full of lifes ambitions and a journey to winning something.


9/10