Warrior | September 9, 2011

Director: Gavin O’Connor
Writer: Gavin O’Connor, Alex Anthony Tambakis
Cast: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison

What it’s about: 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. – IMDB

Why we’re excited: I’ve seen it! An excellent film beyond most people’s expectations, with star-making turns from two of our favorite up and comers, “Inception” breakout star Tom Hardy and the new Aussie at the top of everyone’s wish lists, Joel Edgerton. As someone who doesn’t care a lick for the violent sport of Mixed Martial Arts, the fight sequences are oddly compelling and even though there’s not much dialogue throughout, the emotions, hardships and complicated relationships between the brothers and their estranged father (an Oscar worthy performance from Nick Nolte) are deeply felt.

Trailer:

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