In case you haven’t been paying attention, Tom Hardy is
putting together an impressive body of work.
He is most associated with his role as Eames in Inception and his
upcoming appearance as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, but Hardy has also
appeared in films such as Black Hawk Down, Layer Cake, and RocknRolla. Knowing this, I was curious to see his
performance in Warrior. I have to admit,
that I didn’t have huge expectations for the movie. I knew there was a lot of positive buzz for the film during its theatrical release, but as someone who is not really a
fan of MMA, I was not sure if the plot would appeal to me.
The film that director Gavin O’Connor has put together is
gritty and raw from its casting, to its cinematography, to its execution. Three men – a father and two sons – estranged
from one another and broken in their respective lives are brought back together
against the backdrop of an epic Mixed Martial Arts tournament. The physical violence inflicted in the ring
runs a distant second to the emotional torment and resentment that festers
between these three men and the tournament serves as the catalyst to draw these
issues to the forefront.
Joel Edgerton (who looks like a more menacing Conan O’Brien)
plays the classic underdog, Tom Hardy – the raging inferno, and Nick Nolte –
the alcoholic father. Each character
could easily have become a bag of clichés, but the three actors do a great job
of brining real depth to their respective roles. Edgerton is believable as a journeyman fighter
– turn teacher – turn fighter again and is incredibly easy to root for. Tom Hardy brings an intense physicality to
his role as Tommy Conlon – a man with a singular focus and a gift for
inflicting pain. And Nick Nolte owns the
role of Paddy Conlon and masterfully conveys a sense of
pain and loss in the throaty way he delivers his lines. As for the rest of the cast, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, and Kevin Dunn are solid if not remarkable in balancing
out the film.
It’s not Shakespeare, but Warrior is very good for what it
is – a film that has just the right mix of action and drama. Not since Best of the Best, have I seen a
film tests a man’s ability to remain dry eyed throughout. It will probably never make anyone’s top ten
list, but the movie will definitely entertain.
What more could anyone ask for?
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