Many sports movies have the same formula, and when they are done correctly, they can be quite powerful. Yet, sometimes they blend together, or feel too alike to stand out from one another. However, there is one sports movie that transcends the tropes of the genre, and is the best in its class since Rocky, and maybe one of the best films of all time. This is Warrior (2011).
Directed by Gavin O’Connor and starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte, Warrior follows two estranged brothers, Tommy (Hardy) and Brendan (Edgerton), as they both enter an MMA tournament with a steep cash prize. Though that is a barebones description of the plot, this film has so many layers and so much character conflict, it is difficult to out into words. Nolte plays the former(ish) alcoholic father of the two fighters, and the movie follows their separate struggles to overcome adversity, live up to expectations, and reconcile with each other. Their shared dark past looms over each of them as the tournament progresses, and by the climactic and heavy ending, the audience has no clue who to root for or who they want to win.
Across the board, the acting and character work in Warrior is top notch. Every actor/actress brings his or her A-game, especially Hardy and Nolte. Their respective characters are so broken, so haunted by their pasts, that you can really see it behind their eyes through the whole film. Edgerton’s Brendan is more of an everyman, but that is far from an insult, as he is just as compelling as the rest.
Once the movie gets going, the plot is a tiny bit predictable, but that fact does absolutely nothing to hinder its impact or effectiveness. Warrior relies on the audience realizing where the movie is going, and dreading having to choose a side as the climax grows closer and closer. And no matter who one chooses to support, I believe the ending is satisfying for all parties.
To put it plainly, Warrior is the best sports movie since Rocky, and is second all-time on my own personal ranking in the genre behind that very film. This movie is powerful beyond measure, a great story of redemption, masculinity, and grit that somehow got overlooked when it was first released. Do yourself a favor and watch this film immediately if you haven’t seen it already. You can thank me later.
Russell A. Wells 