In these times of economic uncertainty and political polarization, we need more films like Warrior, a superb celebration of the triumph of the American spirit. Director and writer Gavin O'Connor's gritty masterpiece operates as a complex character study, a fiery family drama and an exhilarating exploration of the world of mixed martial arts. From its initial snapshots of everyday urban life in Pittsburgh to its tear-filled final frames, the film proves capable of arousing virtually every brand of emotion imaginable. A modern-day epic, it dominates the big screen with unrivaled energy and stupendous strength.
Warrior also offers some of the strongest performances in recent memory, especially with regard to the two fighters who earn the film both its title and its emotional impact. At the start of the film, each of these titans seems to represent an archetypal American hero. While Tom Hardy's Tommy has just returned from an apparently heroic tour as a Marine in Iraq, his brother Brendan, played by Joel Edgerton, appears to embody the role of the selfless family man. Both men, however, face personal and professional struggles.
While Tommy struggles to come to terms with his troubled past, Brendan worries that financial woes will destroy his wife and children. The two brothers also must contend with repeated efforts at reconciliation from their formerly abusive alcoholic father, Paddy, portrayed with proper gruffness and sincerity by Nick Nolte. In fact, apart from an affinity for mixed martial arts, the brothers' shared hatred for Paddy is all that they have in common. Nevertheless, both of these commonalities come into play as both Tommy and Brendan turn to mixed martial arts as a means for accomplishing their own noble ends. Fittingly, their paths both culminate in the appropriately named Sparta Tournament in Atlantic City, where the film's climactic contests of strength and endurance take place.
Based on its basic narrative structure, Warrior appears a typical sports film. It certainly follows the rule book of sports movie staples when it comes to training sequences, sweeping montages, worried wives, estranged fathers, ferocious Russian fighters and predestined final match ups. At the same time, the film brings elements of originality to the screen, with regard to both plot and presentation.\nThe film's story takes a number of twists and turns, especially in its final act, but it never sacrifices its sense of reality. Similarly, while the script puts forth some genuine surprises concerning its characters, most notably in the case of Tommy, it never loses its consistency or its logic.
Even when dealing with potentially clich
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