r’s note: Effin Guy and I went to see Warrior a few weeks ago and I copped out and let him write the review. Effin Guy wrote a very thorough excellent review and you can read it here. I was able to get free tickets and took Mom to see a screening of the movie last week and here are my thoughts.
Also I saw Patton Oswalt’s tweet which read:
@pattonoswalt: Going to see WARRIOR tomorrow. Can’t wait to watch Tom Hardy shoot at the walls of heartache. #bangbang
Please to note: there are some spoilers.
Now then, Warrior is one of the best movies I have seen this year. Without gushing I have to say that I enjoyed this movie so much that I may even go see it again with some friends. The movie is not about Mixed Martial Arts as may seem by the ads. Nope, this is the story of a broken family and what happens when years of hurt, anger and need collide.
One of the best things about Warrior is that this movie doesn’t employ a tactic I hate in films: the director doesn’t make us root for one character over another. Brothers Brenden Conlon and Tommy Riordan are neither the good guy or the bad guy; they are two people literally fighting to save something that is important to them. Another thing I loved about this movie: not a whole lot of back story. I do dig back story when needed (superhero movies for example although if I have to see The Batman’s parents shot by the Joker one more time I may hurl) but here the viewer is left to wonder what the heck happened to make Brenden and Tommy so dislike and become estranged from their father, Paddy Conlon who, in the opening of the film, proudly shares his victory as a recovering alcoholic.
The actors who play Brenden and Tommy are fantastic. I really thought they were Mixed Martial Arts fighters who were selected for this role until a Google search told me differently. Joel Edgerton (Brenden) was hardly recognizable from his role as Charlie in the movie Kinky Boots and I still don’t remember a beefed up Tom Hardy (Tommy) from his role in Inception. Nick Nolte deserves some kind of recognition. His portrayal of Paddy should come with a three hanky warning.
The first time I saw this movie I did find the beginning a bit long and drawn out but this build up was needed in order to draw me in. I didn’t know if I should root for family guy Brenden who is fighting to save his house which was in foreclosure because he had previously borrowed money to pay for operations needed to save his daughter’s life. Or do I root for Tommy, who is oh so angry and running to the abusive father who caused a then young Tommy to flee with his mother, running away from being a victim of friendly fire in the war and just running from the feelings he has had for years. Do I feel bad for Paddy who sobers up after an undisclosed incident that caused him to lose the son who remained and deludes himself into thinking that his sobriety will erase the hurtful past?
The supporting cast is also wonderful. Jennifer Morrison as Brenden’s wife Tess is appropriately supportive but reasonably afraid for her husband’s safety. Kevin Dunn as Principal Zito was funny comic relief. I enjoyed his time on screen and appreciated his scenes to relieve some of the tension I felt during the fight scenes.
The final scene in the movie is where I sobbed like a baby. The showdown between the brothers brought to mind every tussle, cross word, angry utterance I have shared with my sister and it was powerful. Below is a trailer for the movie. Again, don’t be fooled by the MMA; that is more of a subplot to the movie about a broken family.
Well played Liongate, well played.
-r
Good stuff, cutie!