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Warrior - 2011
May. 19th, 2020 02:06 pmHad a few hard days lately. What suited my mood was watching a certain type of movie about sports and consensual violence.
Warrior - 2011
I feel like I've written about "Warrior" before? Maybe? It is on Hulu in the US right now and stars Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, and Jennifer Morrison who was in "House" and "Once upon a time". I absolutely love this movie.
In some ways this is a very silly movie about people struggling with masculinity and with a dysfunctional family. These men can't work out their emotions and relationships so they do it via MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting. The plot is elevated, however, by excellent acting, editing, and other movie magic elements, so the film is just so affecting and emotional. It is a wonderful example of a sports film. It's 2 hours and 20 min but I was glued to the screen the whole time, absolutely invested.
Tommy (Tom Hardy) shows up at his dad's doorstep in Pittsburgh. Pops used to be a real asshole but is now reformed. Tommy doesn't want a relationship with his dad, he just wants his dad to train him so he can fight and win. Tom Hardy is a very physical actor, and so interesting to watch; he moves like a tiger, head down, huge shoulders prowling towards you. You feel that at any moment he's going to bust out of his cage and cause mayhem.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Brendon, Tommy's estranged brother, is living a pretty straight-laced suburban life. He has a family and is a high school physics teacher. He's hurting for money and is in danger of losing his house, due to medical bills for one of the kids. He used to be a UFC fighter, and picks up a fight to earn some quick cash. When he shows up to school with a black eye, he gets suspended. So he decides to do some more fighting and gets himself a professional trainer. Brendon has a different fighting style, very controlled, technical, patient.
Both brothers will compete for a one-time, 5 million dollar MMA prize, being offered in Atlantic City.
There is a plot twist involving Tommy's time in the military, which I won't spoil for you.
Content notes: alcoholism, brief mention of past spousal abuse. People beating the shit out of each other in the ring.
Warrior - 2011
I feel like I've written about "Warrior" before? Maybe? It is on Hulu in the US right now and stars Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, and Jennifer Morrison who was in "House" and "Once upon a time". I absolutely love this movie.
In some ways this is a very silly movie about people struggling with masculinity and with a dysfunctional family. These men can't work out their emotions and relationships so they do it via MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting. The plot is elevated, however, by excellent acting, editing, and other movie magic elements, so the film is just so affecting and emotional. It is a wonderful example of a sports film. It's 2 hours and 20 min but I was glued to the screen the whole time, absolutely invested.
Tommy (Tom Hardy) shows up at his dad's doorstep in Pittsburgh. Pops used to be a real asshole but is now reformed. Tommy doesn't want a relationship with his dad, he just wants his dad to train him so he can fight and win. Tom Hardy is a very physical actor, and so interesting to watch; he moves like a tiger, head down, huge shoulders prowling towards you. You feel that at any moment he's going to bust out of his cage and cause mayhem.
Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Brendon, Tommy's estranged brother, is living a pretty straight-laced suburban life. He has a family and is a high school physics teacher. He's hurting for money and is in danger of losing his house, due to medical bills for one of the kids. He used to be a UFC fighter, and picks up a fight to earn some quick cash. When he shows up to school with a black eye, he gets suspended. So he decides to do some more fighting and gets himself a professional trainer. Brendon has a different fighting style, very controlled, technical, patient.
Both brothers will compete for a one-time, 5 million dollar MMA prize, being offered in Atlantic City.
There is a plot twist involving Tommy's time in the military, which I won't spoil for you.
Content notes: alcoholism, brief mention of past spousal abuse. People beating the shit out of each other in the ring.
