Warrior recently arrived in cinema with almost universal critical praise and what looked like another strong performance from Tom Hardy. Sometimes films that get such attention just don’t live up to the hype.
I really pleased to report that not only is the film worthy of the praise it also revives the career of one of Hollywood original wild men, Nick Nolte.
Gavin O’Connor’s powerful movie is home to several outstanding fights, however the climatic showdown between Tommy (Tom Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton) is as heartbreaking as it is adrenaline pumping.
Tom Hardy as Tommy cuts an imposing screen presence, he is a man of few words. When he does speak it’s almost as though he struggles to get the words out of his hulking frame. During the final fight when Tommy is injured but carries on, the look he gives Brendan was devastating. Gone was the soldier, the fighter and all the hatred, in its place was the look of a frightened boy looking to his big brother for help. After a brief but masterful turn in Tinker Tailor, Hardy is almost unrecognisable as Tommy but delivers possibly his most accomplished work to date.
The closing minutes of the final bought is beautifully accompanied with The National’s ‘About Today’, a hurt and broken Tommy refuses to throw in the towel, the anger in his heart is gone and the frightened boy inside who needs his big brother is all that remains. Knocking Tommy to the ground Brendan pins his brother to the ground, telling him that he’s sorry and he still loves him, the two men leave the past in the ring with the chance to be brothers again.
