For 140 minutes I was gripped to this exceptionally well written narrative; what made this so for me is you never truly know who you are rooting for, who's story you find more tragic or who you ultimately want to win. It is no secret that brothers Tommy (Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton) will meet in the final of an Ultimate Fighting Champion tournament (the poster tells you all you need to know in this respect) but along the way in this type of film, you always presume that there is a side you will favour more than the other by the time this final comes; this never happens. The amount of time we are given to explore each characters story is key in this. These brothers have not seen each other in 14 years, with their father (Nick Nolte - incredible) being an alcoholic and their mother not able to take the abuse she receives as a result of this anymore; they have to choose which path they will take. At 14, Tommy moves away with their dying mother and Brendan, at 16, stays with the love of his life.
Tommy is actually shown to be somewhat unlikable in the way he presents himself and the way he speaks to and treats others but what has happened in his life (this is given to you in small and teasing doses) makes you want him to prevail. Brendan is the likable teacher and family man with severe money problems, you instantly warm to him and are also firmly on his side. Australian Joel Edgerton is fantastic throughout and with this performance stamps a massive mark on Hollywood to show he is now a contender on the big stage.
Nick Nolte is mesmerising as Paddy Conlon, a reformed alcoholic and the boys' father. Paddy, in his recovery from addiction and the loss of his family has turned to God and has almost reached his 1000th sober day. In extremely gut wrenching and emotionally charged scenes we see him fighting to regain his children's trust and to get himself back in their lives and them his; their sheer resistance to allow this gives you a poignant insight into the pain he has put them through in the past.
This is not just a fight movie, this is a movie about broken families, and the dynamics between the characters involved. There is one particular scene which made me feel like I had taken a firm blow to the stomach - you will know when this scene comes; it is surprising, emotional and an important moment in the development of 2 characters.
Warrior is the best film I've seen all year and I realise how much of a statement that is. This film was flawed, at times cliche and yet no other film this year so far has put me through as many emotions and made me feel as strongly about it as I do this one. The way Warrior has been shot, the characterisation, the impressive physicality of the fighters, the fight scenes themselves and the pacing of the story, together makes for an engaging drama. You can smell the Oscar nominations now.
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