Every sport, it seems, has its movie — or sometimes even movies. With the steady rise in popularity of mixed martial arts, the time has come for its cinematic moment. There have been MMA movies before, the most notable being David Mamet’s 2008 drama “Red Belt.” But none has really captured the energy and potential provided by the vicious but strategic sport. “Warrior” hopes to fill that void.
Filled with cameos by top fighters and analysts — and, more importantly, plenty of accurate fight scenes — it’s destined to be a fan favorite. But what about everyone else? They’ll find a solidly made (but overly long) paean to men: their troubles, their responsibilities and even their feelings.
| On screen |
| ‘Warrior’ |
| 2.5 out of 4 stars |
| Stars: Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte |
| Director: Gavin O’Connor |
| Rated: PG-13 for sequences of intense mixed martial arts fighting, some language and thematic material |
| Running time: 140 minutes |
Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) returns home to Pittsburgh after more than a decade. We don’t know much about what he did during that time, other than watch his mother die and do a tour of duty with the Marines. But he clearly spent much of it nursing his anger at his alcoholic father. Paddy (Nick Nolte) has done all 12 steps and hasn’t touched a drink in some time. Tommy doesn’t want to hear about it. He’s returned, it seems, simply so his father can train him for Sparta, the upcoming title fight that will be the biggest mixed martial arts has ever seen.
Tommy was a successful high school wrestler, but it’s his brother, Brendan (Joel Edgerton), who made fighting a career. He was in the Ultimate Fighting Championship before settling down as a high school physics teacher to please his wife (Jennifer Morrison). But when some (inexplicable) downturn means they need to come up with cash to keep their house, Brendan decides to return to the game — and also has his eyes on that Sparta prize.
He really needs to win it once school administrators learn he’s been moonlighting and suspend him. “You’ve got no business in the ring with those animals,” his principal tells him. “I used to be one of them,” he responds — subtly telling the audience to beware their own snobbery about the game. It’s those details that make “Warrior” feel like a real film, not an ad for the next pay-per-view fight.
Everything feels right, up to the inevitable climax when the brothers must fight one another, each doing so for a noble cause. Everything must be resolved, and though the film is almost 2 1/2 hours long, the redemption feels too rushed.
“Warrior” does an excellent job, though, of exploring what men want and expect out of family life. And its stars do an even better job of bringing those needs to life.
