If I had to describe my initial reaction leading up to the release of Warrior, it would be one of sheer curiosity as opposed to genuine anticipation. The story of two brothers coming from a conflicted family dynamic set against a fighting competition certainly remains fresh in general audience memory after Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg took on the world of boxing in last December’s The Fighter. Now that Lionsgate was taking a similar approach to MMA fighting, many saw Warrior as nothing more than a cheap knock-off, but the choice of actors certainly piqued my interest. I may not have known Joel Edgerton very well, but I mostly wanted to see Tom Hardy in action so that he could prove himself a worthy adversary for Batman when he takes on the villainous role of Bane in next summer’s The Dark Knight Rises. Early critical praise was through the roof, and late August/early September had already gifted The Debt and Contagion, but could lightning strike a third time and make Warrior truly worth seeing?
One word: Wow. Warrior is utterly phenomenal, delivering an inspiring and heartfelt story that will have you truly cheering for the characters on screen as they engage in no-holds-barred action. Tom Hardy is unapologetically savage as the haunted war hero, while Joel Edgerton is the best kind of underdog as the father struggling to provide for his family…I have no doubt that both these men will be very, very famous in no time. The biggest surprise though comes from Nick Nolte as the brothers’ estranged father, a character desperately seeking redemption for the sins of his past. The film does take some time to gather steam, and the ending is a bit unsatisfying and incomplete, but in its entirety, with engaging characters and truly exciting and brutal fight scenes, Warrior still provides pure entertainment. I don’t care how loyal you are to The Fighter, Warrior is a film that is just as good, if not better, so do yourself a favor and get to the theater…now!
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Overall Recommendation: Very High
