Warrior (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Daniel P

  
  A pretty good movie that could have been a great one. As it was, it was well over two hours, but in a way, this could have been even longer, or maybe an HBO mini-series - that the brothers are on a collision course is evident from the beginning, and the challenging relationships are… More
  A pretty good movie that could have been a great one. As it was, it was well over two hours, but in a way, this could have been even longer, or maybe an HBO mini-series - that the brothers are on a collision course is evident from the beginning, and the challenging relationships are well laid out, but the father storyline featuring Nick Nolte gets short shrift in the conclusion. The conflict between the two brothers didn't seem the most serious in the film, as they both had a bigger conflict with their recovering alcoholic father; the sibling rivalry kind of paled in comparison. I suppose the message is that "brothers stick together," but "both brothers and the father all work it out and stick together" would have been better. Maybe the ending is supposed to tell us that eventually this will happen, but I wasn't convinced, and I didn't think they should have left the father conflict hanging. That said, it's still a montage-heavy, high stakes fighting movie that's enjoyable... and maybe for the first time ever, I might have actually wanted a movie to be longer. It's lean for such an ambitious story, but in a few places, it kind of shows through.

• Emily A

  
  I enjoyed this movie way more than I thought I would. I didn't like Rocky and I didn't have any interest in seeing The Fighter, and this seemed no different to me. How wrong I was. I really loved and really cared about every character in this movie. I also think it's… More
  I enjoyed this movie way more than I thought I would. I didn't like Rocky and I didn't have any interest in seeing The Fighter, and this seemed no different to me. How wrong I was. I really loved and really cared about every character in this movie. I also think it's wonderfully elegant how the past interacts with the present very naturally; we don't get the exposition in flashback but through how frosty the characters with history treat each other, and how you only find out later why. I ended up feeling kind of sorry for Paddy actually, since you never actually saw the abuse that soured his sons towards him. His two sons have been placed on either side of him by circumstance, and this divide has molded the two brothers into completely different men who carry the same pain very differently. I saw this movie just out of love of Tom Hardy, but he's the icing on a really delicious cake. In the ring he's really vicious and imposing, but sadness and genuine bitterness permeate his character. It's like all his years of anger have served only to make him really sad and isolated, and violence is the only avenue he has left to express himself. Hardy's body language alone speaks volumes, especially in his exchanges with Brendan (Joel Edgerton). Both actors' natural accents are invisible as well, and anyone who's seen Inception would never recognize Eames. Luvvit! This movie is miles above Rocky in terms of emotional realism and richness of character. I also think that this film, more artfully than any other I've seen, poetically marries all the character's baggage with their fight styles in the ring. It's really devastating at the end when the brothers have to fight each other, but what other outcome could there possibly be?

• Alexander D

  
  To say that WARRIOR is just another fight film is a preposterous understatement. Whether or not it goes down in history as one of the greatest films of the 21st century (which is likely to begin with), it will certainly be nominated for a few Academy Awards for its next grand… More
  To say that WARRIOR is just another fight film is a preposterous understatement. Whether or not it goes down in history as one of the greatest films of the 21st century (which is likely to begin with), it will certainly be nominated for a few Academy Awards for its next grand competition at the forthcoming Oscar ceremony. A cinematic champion. Ranked #3 of 2011. Full Review: http://wp.me/p1Urcx-zQ

• Mark W

  
  2011 was a good year for movies. Even the ones that tread old ground still achieved their own identity. Just look at the Oscar winning "The Artist", for harking back to silent films; "Hugo", for reminding us of the origins and the magic involved in making them;… More
  2011 was a good year for movies. Even the ones that tread old ground still achieved their own identity. Just look at the Oscar winning "The Artist", for harking back to silent films; "Hugo", for reminding us of the origins and the magic involved in making them; "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" remake also found an audience, a mere two years after the Swedish original. This is another, that manages to take an old formula and still make it work. Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) returns to his hometown Pittsburgh after serving time as a Marine. When back, he prepares for the worldâ??s biggest mixed martial arts tournament, reconnecting with his father, Paddy (Nick Nolte), who takes up his training. Meanwhile, his estranged brother, Brendan (Joel Edgerton), realises he has to return to his old fighting ways if he has any hope of saving his family from crippling financial debts. This is no basic rags to riches sport flick; there's personal history to the three main characters. It has the working class background and fighting montages that lead to the obvious comparisons to "Rocky" or more recently "The Fighter". But even though this is on similar, well worn territory, it's greatest achievement is in delivering something surprisingly fresh and all it's own. The two lead performances are excellently delivered by Hardy and Edgerton but it's Nolte, as their estranged alcoholic father, that really stands out. A great moment, in particular, between the tortured characters of Nolte and Hardy in a diner where the tables turn. As soon as Nolte takes over as trainer, he becomes the patriarch once more. Meanwhile, Edgerton (reminding me of a younger Russell Crowe) combines the family man with ferocious fighting abilities more than competently. The sport itself has rarely been covered on screen. David Mamet touched upon it in 2001 in his impressive film "RedBelt" but that didn't take much of the fighting into the ring. This does. It has the usual sports flick cliches; the underdog; the montages; the friends and relatives watching at home; the opinionated commentary at ringside. If truth be told though, it's a winning formula. But where this film succeeds is in it's human drama. The characters are real and instill a sympathy and sensitivity while building to it's inevitable conclusion. There are moments that genuinely have you on the edge of your seat and ultimately punching the air with delight. (particularly Edgerton's fights). Despite the formula and abundance of cliches, this still manages to transcend them and come out a winner. A great sports film that hits all the right buttons.

• Liam G

  
  Gavin O'Connor incorporates a tale of a dysfunctional family into a typical underdog sports story. Sounds just like 2010's ''The Fighter''. Yet this is still a superbly-acted, gripping and exciting film, one that has a strong emotional core. Oh, and give… More
  Gavin O'Connor incorporates a tale of a dysfunctional family into a typical underdog sports story. Sounds just like 2010's ''The Fighter''. Yet this is still a superbly-acted, gripping and exciting film, one that has a strong emotional core. Oh, and give Nick Nolte an Oscar nomination now!

• Anthony L

  
  I had no interest in watching this film to begin with, I'm not much of a sports fan, I don't like violence and doubted it would be as good as Rocky, The Wrestler, Raging Bull etc so why bother. I don't even know what MMA stands for. It was only seeing the many decent… More
  I had no interest in watching this film to begin with, I'm not much of a sports fan, I don't like violence and doubted it would be as good as Rocky, The Wrestler, Raging Bull etc so why bother. I don't even know what MMA stands for. It was only seeing the many decent ratings by you beautiful people, my flixster friends, who convinced me it was worth a go and I'm glad I did because most of you were right, Warrior is a fantastic film! I really didn't think you could tell another original, compassionate and compelling story in the genres but I was totally wrong, Gavin O'Connor has made a brilliant film. Along with his fantastic direction and the hard work and determination from Hardy and Edgerton and not forgetting the heartbreaking performance from Nolte, which he thoroughly deserved the Oscar for, it had all the right ingredients for a great film, and it is a great film. Definitely one of my favourite 2011 films.

• Manu G

  
  Family is worth fighting for. Epic! Well done. Very good story and film. I love how the acting throughout was excellent. Cool movie! Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime - and the wreckage of their broken family - within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)… More
  Family is worth fighting for. Epic! Well done. Very good story and film. I love how the acting throughout was excellent. Cool movie! Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime - and the wreckage of their broken family - within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting in Lionsgate's action/drama, WARRIOR. An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.

• Lewis C

  
  Whether you're a fan of MMA or not (I'm not), Warrior is a very good movie. The story of two down-and-out brothers being reunited in a high-stakes fighting tournament doesn't shy away from trying to pull at the heart strings in almost every way possible, but it… More
  Whether you're a fan of MMA or not (I'm not), Warrior is a very good movie. The story of two down-and-out brothers being reunited in a high-stakes fighting tournament doesn't shy away from trying to pull at the heart strings in almost every way possible, but it doesn't come off as schmaltzy. It doesn't hurt that the performances and fight scenes are top notch. Warrior is the kind of sports drama that has appeal beyond just devotees of the actual sport. Check it out.

• Carlos M

  
  A compelling drama where the genre clichés actually work. The main characters have their personalities and motivations quite efficiently developed, and even though the plot is driven by several coincidences and we know exactly where it is moving to, we end up caring and cheering a lot… More
  A compelling drama where the genre clichés actually work. The main characters have their personalities and motivations quite efficiently developed, and even though the plot is driven by several coincidences and we know exactly where it is moving to, we end up caring and cheering a lot for the both of them.

• danny d

  
  although im a huge sorts fan, im not a MMA fan at all, so my review is based more on film than a love for the sport portrayed. i loved this movie. although a few sports film cliches are present, most are handled well, and in other areas the methods of convention are avoided all… More
  although im a huge sorts fan, im not a MMA fan at all, so my review is based more on film than a love for the sport portrayed. i loved this movie. although a few sports film cliches are present, most are handled well, and in other areas the methods of convention are avoided all together. the characters are compelling, the dialogue very well written, and the story kept me engaged moment by moment. i was ready to declare this a five star film and one of the best sports films of all time until the lazy and very unsatisfying ending that failed to bring the film's many themes full circle, which was surprising because the themes were handled so well up to that point. overall, one of the better sports films you will ever see.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Kevin Dunn, Maximiliano Hernández, Bryan Callen, Sam Sheridan, Noah Emmerich, Kurt Angle, Erik Apple Director: Gavin O'Connor Summary: Set in the violent and merciless world of mixed martial arts… More
  Cast: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Kevin Dunn, Maximiliano Hernández, Bryan Callen, Sam Sheridan, Noah Emmerich, Kurt Angle, Erik Apple Director: Gavin O'Connor Summary: Set in the violent and merciless world of mixed martial arts combat, director Gavin O'Connor's tale of two brothers at war with each other features plenty of wild ring action as well as emotional family drama. Tom Conlon (Tom Hardy) and older brother Brendan (Joel Edgerton) have pursued separate lives, but when Tom returns home to ask his father's help in preparing for a championship bout, events lead the siblings back into each other's paths. My Thoughts: "Warrior, is a movie where few words are needed because the emotions coming from this film speak louder then words. A very intense film with a family full of mistakes and hurt. Nick Nolte should definitely get some award buzz for his performance. He blew me away and brought tear's to my eyes. The film makes you emotional. You can't sit through this film and not feel what these character's are going through. Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy (swoon lol) give magnificent performances. Just a great drama. The fights are insane. Tommy Colon is the hero and Brendan Conlon is the under dog in this story. The relationships in this family is very vulnerable and it was like an edge of your seat feeling waiting to see how it turns out for them. A definite must see."

• Melvin W

  
  Bryan Callen: Lock up the china because the boys are at it again!  "Family is worth fighting for" I can easily say this is the best fighting movie I have ever seen. Even though it is really a family drama disguised as a MMA movie, the fights could not be better. The way… More
  Bryan Callen: Lock up the china because the boys are at it again!  "Family is worth fighting for" I can easily say this is the best fighting movie I have ever seen. Even though it is really a family drama disguised as a MMA movie, the fights could not be better. The way they are filmed, each one feels like a climax. The movie just keeps building strength as it goes. The punches come harder both physically and emotionally. I really didn't think the most touching film of the year would come from one based in MMA tournament, but I also didn't expect it to be nearly as good as it was. I guess I was wrong. There's a lot going on with this movie. A Marine, Tommy, returns home where he meets his father, Paddy, at his house. Within the first three minutes of their conversation, you can see that Tommy has no love for his father. But he soon enlists him as his trainer for the "Superbowl of MMA," Sparta. Tommy also has an older brother Brendan, who is a physics teacher, who's home is about to be foreclosed on. He begins to fight to make money, and somehow squeaks his way into Sparta. Both are underdogs there, but both are tougher than the others. Tommy also doesn't have much love for his brother. When Tommy and his mom left because the father was an alcoholic who slapped her around, Brendan stayed behind with his father and girlfriend(now his wife). All this family drama just compounds the lead up to the ending.  The craziest thing about the movie is that it manages to be somewhat suspenseful. That's one thing I really didn't think it could be, seeing as they told us straight up in the trailer that these two brothers would meet in the championship. So of course they're going to win all their matches. What made it suspenseful was the great tension that Gavin O'Connor was able to create. No matter if it was the family drama or the actual fights, there was so much tension in everything that was going on. When the movie finally reaches that final fight, it is a sight to behold. It's thrilling, compelling, and ultimately touching, in ways that I've never seen before. Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, and Nick Nolte, who play the three family members are fantastic. They all bring out the most from their characters. Tom Hardy plays Tommy, who is such an emotionally deep character. Tommy was in the Marines, and in order not to give too much away, I'll say that a lot of stuff happened there that has had an affect on him. He's quite and lacks the emotion he should have. He hates his father for forcing him and his mother  into leaving. He hates his brother because he feels like he was abandoned by him. Tom Hardy also just got me even more pumped up for The Dark Knight Rises. His fighting scenes in this movie are awesome, so it is going to be amazing when we finally get to see him as Bane. Edgerton plays Brandon. His character is more out of the book, but still compelling. As I said he is a teacher. He has a wife and two daughters, and not much money. His house will be foreclosed on soon. So he has to win this tournament, where the reward is 5 million dollars. He also hates his father, but wants to be close to his brother. Nolte plays Paddy. He is a recovering alcoholic who just wants to be forgiven by his two sons. He constantly is trying to get as close to them as he can, but they just turn him away.  Warrior is just a terrific movie. To just compare it to the likes of Rocky and The Fighter would be an understatement. As much as I like those other two, I like this even more. Phenomenal work from all involved. Brendan Conlon: I'm your brother, man.  Tom Conlon: You were in the Corps?  Brendan Conlon: What?  Tom Conlon: I said I didn't know you were in the Corps.  Brendan Conlon: I wasn't in the Corps.  Tom Conlon: Then you ain't no brother to me. My brother was in the Corps. 

• Mike S

  
  Warrior is to MMA what Rocky is to boxing. A true knock-out of a movie, that easily goes down in history as one of the best fighter flicks ever made. It's very slow in its general pacing, but the final 30 minutes are so incredibly rewarding, that you'll forget about all the… More
  Warrior is to MMA what Rocky is to boxing. A true knock-out of a movie, that easily goes down in history as one of the best fighter flicks ever made. It's very slow in its general pacing, but the final 30 minutes are so incredibly rewarding, that you'll forget about all the yawns you may have suffered in the beginning. Because in terms of performances, directing and plausibility of the story, this is a first-rate sports drama that doesn't pull any punches. Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton are absolutely phenomenal, although the real surprise for me was Nick Nolte. His riveting portrayal of a drunk-gone-sober father who seeks to reunite with his two estranged sons, is the most heart-rending, authentic and poignant performance I've ever seen by him. I hope he gets some recognition for it at the award shows this year, because he has earned it to say the least. Above all else though, it's a story about family. I have a younger brother who competes in Jiu-Jitsu (and who is very knowledgable about UFC), which made the film feel all the more relatable and personal to me. I don't think I'll be watching it again, due to all the parts where it drags, but what began with a whimper, ends with a bang so powerful you'll feel like you've been K.O'ed yourself. Highly recommended and especially to MMA fans!

• Jason C

  
  It's nice that "Warrior" wasn't made solely to cash in on the current popularity of mixed martial arts. The movie actually delivers a solid story. The film achieves the jump-off-the-couch sports drama and heart of the Rocky series. However, it succeeds with a… More
  It's nice that "Warrior" wasn't made solely to cash in on the current popularity of mixed martial arts. The movie actually delivers a solid story. The film achieves the jump-off-the-couch sports drama and heart of the Rocky series. However, it succeeds with a cold and brutal honesty, that's normally not offered from this style of storytelling. The acting and the fight scenes are great, the characters have depth, and that is enough to declare "Warrior" a winner.

• Cynthia S

  
  Fantastic movie alert!!! Holy cow! I swear, if Tom Hardy doesn't have a fan club yet I AM STARTING ONE RIGHT NOW! I think that this was the best movie I've seen in a long time. It's emotional, the fight scenes were outstanding, and the storyline excellent. I was… More
  Fantastic movie alert!!! Holy cow! I swear, if Tom Hardy doesn't have a fan club yet I AM STARTING ONE RIGHT NOW! I think that this was the best movie I've seen in a long time. It's emotional, the fight scenes were outstanding, and the storyline excellent. I was constantly on the edge of my seat during the fight scenes. Great acting all around. I don't think that I can say enough good things about this movie. Kudos to all involved!!

• Pedro H

  
  <i>Family is worth fighting for.</i> <b>Actually pretty good</b> I must admit that from the looks of it I knew that I was going to detest this film, mainly because I hate this genre of films and movies like 'The Wrestler' and 'Fighter'… More
  <i>Family is worth fighting for.</i> <b>Actually pretty good</b> I must admit that from the looks of it I knew that I was going to detest this film, mainly because I hate this genre of films and movies like 'The Wrestler' and 'Fighter' made me hate them even more. However this movie isn't all that bad, on the contrary its actually pretty good, and although I didn't love it, it was worth watching. The story is about two brother Brendan and Tommy who are totally different, and their parallel stories lead them to the same path, to a fighting competition. One thing is for sure about this movie, the acting is amazing. Tom Hardy is <b>alright</b>, for some reason I just couldn't click with his character. But Joel Edgerton is great, he totally blows it and is totally convincing throughout the entire film. Nick Nolte is brilliant, like most of the time, and Jennifer Morrison does an awesome job for a secondary role. The soundtrack of this movie is also quite good, it really adds to the mood. Gavin O'Connor uses some creative shots and although they are cliche for these types of films like the Rocky movies, he does an pretty good job working it out. The main problem about this movie lies in the shallow and dragging plot. It gets really tiring at times. <u>Frank Campana: </u> <i>"You don't knock him out, you lose the fight, you understand me? You don't knock him out, you don't have a home."</i>

• Phil H

  
  This is the first film I've seen that focuses around the now popular MMA UFC competitions which involve fighters from around the world in all martial art forms. I found out about MMA a few years ago and was thrilled at the thought, being a JCVD fan since a young age I… More
  This is the first film I've seen that focuses around the now popular MMA UFC competitions which involve fighters from around the world in all martial art forms. I found out about MMA a few years ago and was thrilled at the thought, being a JCVD fan since a young age I couldn't believe there was actually a real life legal competition which worked along the lines of the JCVD classic 'Bloodsport'. Since then I have become hugely disappointed with so called MMA as there is really very little martial arts going on, it all tends to be big men bulldozing each other to ground and simply pounding and hammering each other into the canvas, no skill or MMA anywhere to be seen accept for extreme wrestling, the lighter weights are easily the better fights to watch with more skill involved. This film does better than reality for the heavy weights as it actually shows some martial art skill being used, not much but its there if you look closely. Its one of the most accurate and realistic fighting films I've seen for along time or ever actually, the director has wisely avoided the cliches and much used ideas along the 'Rocky' route and 'The Karate Kid' route etc...and added awhole load of character building and back story to immerse the viewer. It is odd why a teacher seems to be some kind of street fighter in his spare time to make extra money (doesn't a teacher pay well in the US?) and how both he and his brother just decide to enter the MMA competition for money when surely there are other easier ways but hey. The story is solid and gives the film a big needed injection of regular life instead of the obvious mindless fighting route other films go down. Plenty of emotion and family values which everyone can relate too but in my humble opinion I just thought there was a bit too much emotion stuck in, O'Connor really crams in as much tear jerking info as he can just in case we forget to cry and realise how sensitive the film is. One thing after another from the brothers unforgiving history with their father, 'Tommy Riordan' being a big war hero but doesn't like to talk about it and the brothers predictably fighting each other in the final whilst their father looks on. The performances here are very good, not Oscar material but very good, for me Nolte stands out as the brothers father with a sterling job as he tries to reconcile with his boys. Joel Edgerton as 'Brendan Conlon' also shines here as a father trying to make money to save his home and family with a very down to earth, believeable performance as a regular guy. Hardy as 'Tommy' fits the role as a fighter but his acting doesn't hit the target for me, his pouting throughout and unnecessary 'I'm hard' walk/vibe/persona during fight sequences (especially late on in the film) isn't required, don't show off Hardy, just play it real like Edgerton did. A fight film with a difference as it actually has a decent plot within it but I wouldn't say its as uplifting or heartbreaking as I've been reading, there are strong emotional qualities along with redemption, forgiveness and reconciliation but at the end of the day I felt more of a rush at the end of 'The Karate Kid' (84) to be honest hehe. Kudos for one of the most realistic fight films around, kudos for the story but I've seen better drama films that have hit me harder with the tissues. For realism this is one of the best but for all out balls to the wall fighting that will make your jaw drop 'Undisputed 2/3' are still the best fight films for me.

• c0up  

  
  'Warrior'. SO much heart and emotion. Brilliant performances by Nolte and Tom Hardy, and using The National's 'About Today' for the last 6 minutes? I've never thought the song could have impacted me more than it already did, but God damn, constant chills.… More
  'Warrior'. SO much heart and emotion. Brilliant performances by Nolte and Tom Hardy, and using The National's 'About Today' for the last 6 minutes? I've never thought the song could have impacted me more than it already did, but God damn, constant chills. The trailer does this film no justice, making it out to be another run-of-the-mill sports drama, and giving away the whole story in the process. What Gavin O'Connor has done to take this seemingly simple story and elevate it beyond my highest expectations is truly special. You don't have to like MMA to enjoy this film, but you do have to love good drama.

• Dan S

  
  A rousing, riveting story of a family torn apart, and two brothers (Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton) who meet after not seeing one another for a while, in a winner-takes-all MMA battle. This movie caught me off guard. I expected to like it, but I utterly fell in love with this picture. The… More
  A rousing, riveting story of a family torn apart, and two brothers (Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton) who meet after not seeing one another for a while, in a winner-takes-all MMA battle. This movie caught me off guard. I expected to like it, but I utterly fell in love with this picture. The performances all-around are outstanding, notably Hardy as the mysterious, troubled younger brother, and Nick Nolte as their battered, guilt-ridden father who trains Hardy. This movie surpasses the classic it closely resembles, "Rocky", as well as "The Fighter", a respectable but slightly inferior movie to this near-masterpiece. The drama is realistic, and each character is developed exceptionally well. The last 1/3 of the film keeps packing the emotional punches left and right, and this leads to a fitting, yet still devastating conclusion that is in one turn crowd-pleasing, but in another saddening and heart-wrenching. A stellar film, and one of the finest of the year.

• Nate Z

  
  This may be a mixed martial arts (MMA) movie in appearance, but really Warrior is put together like a traditional boxing movie. Director/co-writer Gavin O'Conner (Miracle) takes a kitchen-sink approach to storytelling; just about every damn dramatic thing you can think of, short… More
  This may be a mixed martial arts (MMA) movie in appearance, but really Warrior is put together like a traditional boxing movie. Director/co-writer Gavin O'Conner (Miracle) takes a kitchen-sink approach to storytelling; just about every damn dramatic thing you can think of, short of emergency baby deliveries, is stuffed into this movie. You've got two brothers, one a hard luck school teacher (Joel Edgerton) trying to save the bank from taking his home (his family is broke due to his sick daughter's medical condition), and the other (Tom Hardy) an Iraq War vet who saved lives and wants no glory, for he's haunted by the men in his platoon who did not survive. Add a drunken father (Nick Nolte) trying to live life on the straight-and-narrow who wants to get back in his sons' good graces, the teacher's community rallying around him, the Marine's comrades in service rallying around him, and some major personal issues between brothers (Hardy feels that his bro abandoned him and their sick mother), and two competing underdog tales, and my God, it's hard not to feel beaten into submission. But damn if it isn't effective stuff. I was tearing up at multiple points, completely sucked into the drama, riveted by the brutal, adrenaline-pumping MMA fight scenes, and pining for family reconciliation. Hardy and Edgerton flex more than their muscles on screen; each gives terse, heartbreaking, completely convincing performances as broken-down men struggling for redemption. You don't have to no a lick about MMA to get hooked by the heavy emotional beats of the movie. Warrior is by no means a subtle movie, but it pushes all the sports genre buttons expertly, presenting a gratifying, affecting meat-and-potatoes drama that grown men are given permission to get weepy over. Nate's Grade: A-

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