Warrior - 3 smiles

Although “Warrior” manages the fight scenes effectively, when the focus is on the story, there are way too many contrivances to result in an altogether satisfying movie-going experience. Two Pittsburgh brothers, both in their 30s and estranged for years, are in desperate need of money. The elder, Brendan (Joel Edgerton), a mild-mannered, much loved physics teacher at the local high school, has mortgage problems. He fights to earn extra money so he and his family won’t lose their home. The younger brother, Tommy (Tom Hardy), is an ex-marine and a brooding hothead. Though you’re not sure why Tommy needs money at the start of the movie, he asks his father, Paddy (Nick Nolte), to coach him as he prepares for ‘Sparta,’ a $5 million mixed martial arts tournament in Atlantic City.

What are the odds that they’ll end up in the ring together? No manipulation here, right? Is it believable that these two amateur fighters could land two out of only 16 spots in a multi-million dollar competition of world-class fighters? As the movie progresses, you can predict plot points long before each happens. However, the two leads, Edgerton and Hardy, rise above plot contrivances and melodrama to give powerful performances as damaged men. And although we know nothing about Nick Nolte’s character other than he’s their father and he’s full of regret for his past behavior as a drunk and abusive father, Nolte, too, is moving as a man trying to win a reconciliation with his sons. In addition, Director Gavin O’Connor handles the brutal fight scenes well.  Tommy, seething with anger, demolishes his opponents in brutally short order while Brendan, less physically talented than his brother but incapable of quitting, endures endless abuse in the ring while waiting for an opportunity to pin his opponent. Their progress to the inevitable conclusion, while implausible, is, nonetheless, compelling. Too bad “Warrior” ends abruptly without giving the audience time to savor the victory. 9/9/11