Writer/Director: Gavin O’Connor
Starring: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy and Nick Nolte
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actors in Hollywood have gained recognition of Joel Edgerton. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Edgerton has become a beloved icon. Whether it’s MMA fighters, religious pastors or wealthy figures, Edgerton has played many strong characters. Arguably, Edgerton’s greatest strength as an actor has often been his commitment to his craft. He’s one of those rare actors which has always poured his heart and soul into each and every role. Shining a bright light in pitch-black darkness, Edgerton has turned into a renowned icon in the entertainment business. Through extraordinary abilities to portray characters which are compelling, Edgerton has built a powerful legacy that’s lasting. Edgerton’s commitment towards playing each character in movies with strong will has made him a commemorated icon in the world of entertainment. Throughout his strong career, the commemorated actor has manufactured several memorable movies tackling universal themes which are definitely without any doubts worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Edgerton and adore all of the films he has produced in his career. However, “Warrior” is my favourite. Since its release in 2011, Gavin O’Connor’s movie has become an iconic classic. Packed with strong production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest sports movies ever made. At the centre of it all is a strong performance from Joel Edgerton, who embodies a powerful MMA fighter that shares broken bonds with his brother. Ultimately, what makes “Warrior” an inspiring sports classic is its universal appeal. Unlike most movies about MMA fighters, the film discusses strong themes that everyone would relate to. It delivers a strong message about strong bonds between siblings which will resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing MMA masterpiece about bonds between estranged brothers, there are many strong reasons why “Warrior” is a must-see wrestling movie which is definitely without a doubt worth watching.
“Warrior” tells the story of two brothers whose relationship is fractured by dreams to become MMA fighters. Joel Edgerton portrays Brendan Conlon, a renowned MMA fighter that seeks to become a legendary figure. Brendan has often shared a powerful bond with his father Paddy, a former boxer. Paddy is a dedicated boxing trainer that is determined to train his son to be a successful champion. However, Brendan’s dreams of becoming a successful MMA fighter are threatened by the expected arrivals of his estranged brother. Tommy (Tom Hardy) is an alcoholic that has often shared a complicated bond with his estranged family. Faced with a serious dilemma, Brendan is forced to fight in the ring against his beloved brother. Unable to cope with the intense pressure that’s posed by being a fighter, Brendan begins to wonder if he can ever beat his brother. As all the odds are stacked against his favour, Brendan attempts to reconcile his broken relationships with his estranged brother.
Gavin O’ Connor is a newcomer towards the stories of MMA wrestlers. Before he directed “Warrior”, O’Connor was known for making sports movies capturing hockey players. His 2004 movie “Miracle” captured the lives of hockey players facing odds stacked against their favour. With “Warrior”, however, O’ Connor created his first MMA drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture big barriers faced by brothers which seek to be wrestlers but he succeeded. Through strong cinematography, O’ Connor captures intense barriers faced by estranged brothers stuck in a dysfunctional family. O’Connor successfully uses handheld camera to capture hardships which a pair of estranged brothers are facing. For instance, handheld camerawork elevates the family meeting scene. During this intense scene, Tommy reunites with his father whom he is estranged with following several years of separation. Through handheld camera, the filmmaker captures intense hardships MMA fighters in dysfunctional families go through. Handheld camerawork is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Paul Greengrass’ “Captain Phillip” claimed, handheld cameras enhance thrillers about terrifying ship hijackings. That being said, it works immensely in this movie. Through stunning visuals, O’Connor captures hardships that brothers in UFC wrestling are facing.
Another admirable aspect of “Warrior” which merits appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. O’Connor expertly stages realistic UFC fighting scenes through real-life training. Unlike most movies about UFC in which fights are often fake, “Warrior” stands out become of its real-life boxing training. O’Connor staged thrilling fighting sequences through engaging real-life training. For instance, the training of fights enhances the final fight scene. During this unforgettable scene, Tommy and Brendan come face to face in their final fight with each other causing terror. One appreciates real-life training capturing the obstacles bothers in a wrestling environment are enduring. Real-life training is a tricky technique to use in movies. As David O. Russell’s “The Fighter” suggested clearly, real-life training elevates sports films based on true stories. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Moreover, the music is magnificent. Mark Isham’s music is critical to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden brothers in wrestling. Through breathtaking production, O’Connor captures commemorated brothers in wrestling which face tension.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “Warrior” is a captivating film about lives of wrestlers that’s compelling. The film is very well-written, and effectively uses silence to capture estranged families that experience tension. O’Connor’s screenwriting strength is his ability to capture tension experienced by dysfunctional families through silences. For instance, silence elevates the son reunions scene. During this sad scene, Paddy fails to reconcile broken bonds with Brendan whom he’s meeting after many years of separation. One appreciates sequences of silence which capture hardships that brothers in estranged families are facing. Silence is a complicated technique to use in movies. Most MMA films are often driven by loud sounds which are a means to build tension. As Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull” demonstrated, silence elevates legendary boxing movies. Celine Song’s “Past Lives” suggested sequences of silence elevate celebrated romantic dramas. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, O’Connor honours MMA fighters today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Joel Edgerton delivers one of his finest career performances as Brendan. Edgerton gained appreciation for portrayed criminals in crime dramas. With “Warrior”, however, he took on his most emotional role. It isn’t easy to play a traumatized MMA fighter experiencing broken bonds with his brother, but he succeeded very well. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and brave in his most challenging role. It’s a physical role that required a certain degree of commitment. Edgerton has to capture the physicality of an MMA fighter through performing his own stunt fights. However, he pulled it off successfully. With riveting expressions, he captures angst, desperation and trauma of an estranged man sharing broken bonds with his brother. It’s an exceptional performance from one of the best actors working today.
Tom Hardy is terrific as a commemorated MMA fighter which struggles to mend his bond with his brother facing tragedy. Hardy is one of those actors that has always had an aptitude for playing tense characters, and “Warrior” showcased his strengths as an actor. As an MMA fighter, Hardy used his strong body language to craft a compelling character. Whether he’s refusing to forgive his brother that causes mourning or arguing with his father, Hardy used compelling body language to create a commemorated character. It is a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors currently working in the industry today.
The final, most notable standout in the cast is Nick Nolte. As an emotional father struggling to mend his broken family, he brings heartfelt emotion to the movie.
Finally, “Warrior” will earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing wrestling siblings that face danger. Unlike most movies about MMA fighters, it’s one of those rare films which will resonate with everyone. The movie discusses strong themes including identity, desperation and trauma which would definitely resonate with everyone. It delivers a strong message about the bonds between siblings that will strike a chord with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be fans of the profession of MMA fighting to appreciate it. Therefore, “Warrior” is one of those rare movies about the lives of professional MMA fighters that everyone will adore.
Fans of Joel Edgerton will definitely appreciate “Warrior” and so will movie-goers which seek meaningful entertainment. An engaging classic about wrestling, it honours an actor which has built a legacy that’s iconic.
Nearly 15 years following the release of a groundbreaking sports film about brothers facing rivalries struggling to mend broken relationships in the world of wrestling, it’s a riveting reminder of an actor that has built an enduring legacy earning a huge fan following for his abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling whose captivating movies are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 