Film Review: Incredible ‘Warrior’ With Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte

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CHICAGO – Gavin O’Connor’s “Warrior” is such a powerful, unusual film that we’re doing something we don’t typically do at HollywoodChicago.com – giving you an early warning that an incredible piece of filmmaking hits theaters in a few weeks on September 9th, 2011. As so many films get lost in the Friday shuffle of new releases, it seems easier for a quality, smaller film to miss its audience. Don’t lose “Warrior.” It’s one of the best films of 2011.

Rating: 5.0/5.0

Being about men who fight who happen to be brothers will draw many comparisons to the Oscar-winning “The Fighter,” but “Warrior” is a much darker, introspective film. As much as I like David O. Russell’s 2010 work, it’s a movie that plays in broad archetypes – the fighter, the brother, the mother, the girlfriend. “Warrior” doesn’t draw those lines nearly as distinctly, to the point where it doesn’t even present a single protagonist to root for nor does it as clearly set up an arc of redemption for any of its characters. This is a daring film, one that naturally is forced to use some sports movie clichés but does so in a way that feels unique.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Warrior” in our reviews section.

The film opens with a scene that lays bare the deep emotional wounds of two of its major players – Tommy (Tom Hardy of “Inception”) has come home to see his father Paddy (Nick Nolte) for the first time in many years. It becomes clear that Tommy and his mother left home ages ago to escape the abusive patriarch. Expecting to find Paddy in his typically-drunk state, Tommy seems almost angry that dad’s been sober for almost three years. He didn’t come to forgive him.

While Tommy begins to work out some of the intense anger he appears to carry in every muscle of his body at the gym, we meet his brother Brendan (Joel Edgerton of “Animal Kingdom”). The more mild-mannered teacher is a family man with a gorgeous, supportive wife (Jennifer Morrison of “House”). But he’s been hit by the economic crisis. He’s going to lose his home if he doesn’t come up with some funds soon. He returns to fighting in cash bouts in the parking lots of strip clubs, a choice that causes his suspension from school and creates some trouble at home.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Warrior” review.

Warrior
Photo credit: Lionsgate Pictures