Mixed Martial Arts drama starring Tom Hardy (Inception, Bronson), Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom) and Nick Nolte.
Ex-Marine, Tommy (Hardy), returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father (Nolte), a recovered alcoholic and former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. Meanwhile, his brother, Brendan, (Joel Edgerton) a former MMA fighter, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family after being suspended from his job.
Past recriminations and betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers will sort it out in the ring.
I watched this yesterday and was blown away by the emotional impact it had on me. I don't know where to start other than to say the performances were at such an honest and raw level I didn't know who to back out of the brothers! So much visceral and physical pain was on the screen it was a tour de force of what a sports movie should be like. Warrior has definitely set the bar and you'd be hard pushed to reach these heights since Rocky. Great casting with Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte and Tom Hardy giving stellar performances.
I saw this movie on a plane. I was expecting a very "B" grade movie with a title like this. Was I ever wrong. Weather you like MMA or not I am sure a lot of people will enjoy this movie. Great performances by all of the actors. Why better than the likes of Rocky with awesome fight scenes.
Why do I consider Tom Hardy one of the most exciting actors since the young De Niro? Well, it's performances like this. Now this makes up for the trivial McG tripe of 'This Means War.' Powerful, committed performances from a superb cast - Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte. A family drama based around the arena of Mixed Martial Arts and concepts (and misconceptions) of wartime heroism - this is a 'Rocky' with brains that out fights 'The Fighter' and establishes Tom Hardy as the biggest star and most versatile actor since 'The Fighter's' Christian Bale - only better. Can't wait to see him as Bane in 'The Dark Knight Rises.' 'Warrior' is a gritty, powerful, dynamic and entertaining drama - well scripted, shot, edited and directed and my only complaint is why on earth did it take so very long to reach Aotearoa's cinema screens? It's a tragedy to make Kiwi audiences wait this long for movies of this calibre. Sort it out NZ cinema!
For all its titular bravado, Warrior never lets the audience forget the economic and spiritual desperation driving its two main characters, who bleed for the screaming arena crowd in exchange for their shots at redemption.
Brings such complexity to the final showdown that hardly anything could top it - but something does, and Warrior earns it.
Warrior is a powerful, moving and brilliant sports-pic-cum-family drama.
It grabs you in early scenes, intense though low-key before all hell breaks loose, then keeps you riveted to its mostly male characters.
It shows promise but finally hits things so hard, both literally and metaphorically, that it's hard not to feel pummeled yourself by the time it's over.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Wednesday, 29th Feb 2012.
Release date: February 29th 2012.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
