Movies.ie

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• Currently 4/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

When the brooding, strong and silent Tommy Riordan (Hardy) finds out about the $5million prize for Sparta – billing itself as the Super Bowl of mixed martial arts – he reluctantly asks his prodigal father Paddy (Nolte) to be his trainer. On the strict understanding that there be no bonding, the son having never forgiven the father for driving him and his sick mother away 14 years ago. Paddy’s approaching 1,000 days sober, but Tommy isn’t ready to forgive. Neither is Paddy’s older son, Brendan (Edgerton), a physics teacher who finds himself being drawn back into the old family profession when it looks like his wife and two daughters might be out of house and home…

THE VERDICT: Yep, it’s the Rocky road to redemption once again, but director Gavin O’Connor (who didn’t quite hit the mark with the Colin Farrell-led Pride And Glory) makes a better job of portraying America’s fighting Irish with this largely stirring affair. It’s Cain and Abel, with gloves on, as the two estranged brothers bang heads from the outset, and if Tommy’s slowly revealed back story is a little too heroic and stoic, there’s a definite emotional punch here - thanks largely to some muted storytelling and three very fine lead performances.

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 4/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  Onionhead

  

  Finally saw this on blu ray and in a word wow. The story works well and newsflash here, both the stars can really act (Tom Hardy of course is Bane in the new Batman movie). The mma and choreography in general is crisp and sharp and you can't help but cheer as you watch. I really don't get why such a well made movie didn't do better at the box especially when you look at some of the rubbish that does well. Two brothers who went on very different journeys in life with an alcoholic father and nothing in common to unite them. I even love the contrasting styles. You have the former marine who blasts in short and sweet and finishes the job. His brother a school teacher on suspension for prizefighting mma (ironically). He is a thinker but former mma star in his own right and is a lot more technical and calculating for a better word. Anybody watching this who studies martial arts or mma will have a smile whilst they watch this. Karare Kid this isn't.Enjoy

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  BIGBADBRIAN

  

  Tom Hardy is fantastic in this, very intense and he is huge. A very intense film, well acted, Nolte is great in it. The fight scenes are done really well, but the film is more focused on the characters and brothers. It has a certain type of Rocky-ness to it. it is a fantastic film and should be watched. Even the ladies will love it. It's not just a fight film.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  scollonp

  

  Fecking intense drama and much, much better than I expected. Hardy is excellent. HIGHLY recommended, makes Rocky look like Barney.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  ssconnolly

  

  When a successful investor creates Sparta , a competition which aims to reveal who the toughest man in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is, two brothers set their sights on the 5 million dollar prize money. Brendan is an ex-fighter who gave up the sport to work as a physics teacher but returns to the ring when he discovers the bank are going to take his house. Tommy is an ex-marine who returns to his hometown, haunted by tragedy and full of resentment towards his brother and father, a recovering alcoholic. As Tommy destroys his opponents, Brendan sets himself out as the underdog of the tournament, setting the brothers up for a violent confrontation from which only one can come out on top. Around the time of its release Warrior was being discussed as a UFC version of Rocky or last years The Fighter. At the time I didn't see a problem with that, but now having seen the film I think it's a shame these labels were lazily thrown onto it as Warrior is very different and exceedingly better than both of those films. Warrior is not only one of the best films I've seen this year, but for me along with The Wrestler and Raging Bull this is one of the finest fighting films ever made. Warrior is a film which delivers exciting and brilliantly crafted fight sequences in the ring and genuinely moving stories out of it. For me the real hook of Warrior is the fact that we follow the journey of two fighters. We track both their stories, we learn and come to respect their motives and they become two very sympathetic and likable characters. This is a very interesting thing as then when it comes down to the serious business you realise that you don't want to see either of them lose. It also makes the film genuinely unpredictable. With more recent fighting films like The Fighter and Real Steel you can kind of see where the film is going very early on. But in Warrior it's very hard to know what will happen. Right from the start we know only one can come out on top, and this keeps the film completely engaging and ultimately very powerful. Some may find the ending anti-climactic due to the fact that because you are up for the winner and the loser there is no way to be entirely happy with how it ends. But I think most won't have trouble being moved by the ending, and I certainly did not. Now the film is pretty clichéd, but it is clichéd in a good way. What I mean is it contains all these annoying clichés we've come to associate with fighting films, but it incorporates them in a way that isn't at all annoying. There were montages, but none went on for too long. I also heard people moaning about the significant number of in-fight cutaways to random characters reacting to the action. Personally I love these, seeing all these characters united in the tension and excitement of the fights as it makes me as an audience member feel like one of them. And it also makes these scenes pretty rousing. There are moments that will have you jumping around on your feet or if you don't like looking like a twat in the cinema, quietly fist-pumping to yourself. What really sets this film apart however are the films performances. The film stars three truly gifted actors and all three make their characters so rich and real. Nick Nolte, though not the main star, completely steals the show. I will officially be boycotting this years Oscars if he isn't at the very least nominated for Best Supporting Actor as he has given hands down the performance of the year. He plays the recovering alcoholic father of the films fighting brothers . His performance is truly magnificent, heartbreaking and gripping right from the opening shots of the film. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, despite being left in the shadow of Nolte's performance, are both sensational. Hardy storms through this film full force with a rarely touching and always raw and brutal display. Edgerton's performance is somewhat more tame, but he still made his impact with a meaningful performance. And when the two of them go head to head, words cannot describe the tension and emotion you will feel. So all in all Warrior is one of the years best films and one which I am very highly recommending. I'm not c than just a fighting film. Everything comes together in this to make it a really exceptional movie. The performances are amazing, the fight sequences superbly staged, the stories emotional and the soundtrack it fantastic. The film actually starts and ends with music by The National, who are my favourite band so I think I was destined to love this. But even without that music the film would still be a must-see so please check out Warrior at all costs, I genuinely believe you won't regret it.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  bigslick184

  

  Really enjoyed this film. Am a big fan of MMA and felt this was faithful to the sport. Hardy was amazing as the bitter brother. Loved every second.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  griffiap

  

  Just a great movie. Another great outing for Hardy. From what I had seen i knew it would be a solid fighting movie but was blow away by how well the actual drama and characters were brought to the screen. Really really simple story very well told, oh but after you walk out of the cinema you probably will want to punch someone in the face.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  hammer

  

  Absolutely brilliant movie. A mix of amazing fighting choreography and a very interesting story.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  vu1999uk

  

  I have to say, i really enjoyed this. Some great acting, and while the story may be a bit cheesy at times, it still all works together nicely.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  Chad

  

  I absolutely loved this movie. Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Joel Edgerton all give outstanding performances. The story is great, the fights are great, I have nothing bad to say about this movie. Go see it!

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  blade803

  

  This is definitely a must see movie, Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton both give great performances, Nick Nolte also did well playing the father, good to see him back in movies to be honest. This movie is along the lines of Rocky and The Fighter only in an MMA setting, so for anyone going to see this then you'll know what to expect, it does take a little while to get into the movie but when it does it's excellent. Near the end it certainly gives you an emotional feeling, something which i haven't felt during a film in a while.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  filmbuff2011

  

  I'm not familiar with the world of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), but this variation on the working-class hero returning to the ring is a worthwile, if unspectacular addition to the sports movie genre. Having two brothers at the heart of it gives it some punch and it's more honest and committed than the over-rated The Fighter. Tom Hardy continues to go from strength to strength, and if his performance in this is anything to go by, then he will be beating up Batman come next summer. It's overlong and a little cliched, but aren't most sports movies?

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  If you pass on seeing Warrior simply because you don't like MMA, you're denying yourself the chance to see a solid, well-made, emotionally gripping movie

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  thegift06

  

  A film for MMA fans really, was a bit confusing and I felt it didnt end properly, wouldnt really recommend going to see it if you want to see something exciting and new. Its just like every other fighting film, the main character is behind and is being beaten up badly and somehow comes back and wins, bit too predictible