A Ronin's Review: Warrior

Image property of Lionsgate and Warrior. We do not own the rights.

As mixed martial arts has slowly begun to infiltrate Hollywood cinema, mma fans so far have been able to come to only one conclusion; MMA and movies simply don't mix well. Films such as Never Back Down and the more streets focused Fighting did little for mma other than to portray it as a sport for thugs and punks. "Human cock fighting" according to John McCain. This portrayal is mind numbingly disappointing as it is the very image that the mixed martial arts world has spent the better part of two decades trying to shed. To make matters worse, the above mentioned films were utterly terrible to boot. On the other hand, the movie Red Belt did much to emphasize the virtue of honor which many fighters hold so close to their hearts. But while Red Belt proved itself to be a decent film and successfully shined a more positive light on the sport, the way the fighting itself was presented in the film came off as cheesy and only slightly above something one might find when watching professional wrestling. In short, fans longing for a movie that truly captured the spirit of mma and portrayed it in as pure a form as possible were left still hungry. Recently, Gavin O'Conner, director of the inspirational movie Miracle, decided to make his attempt to succeed where others had come up short and bring to mma fans, and sports fans really, the film that mixed martial arts truly deserved. The result? Warrior!

 

 

It is with great excitement that I write that Warrior does indeed do what its predecessors could not. And not only is Warrior a good mma movie, it is just good, period. But what exactly is it about this film that separates it from Hollywood's previous efforts? For one, the main characters in the film, Tommy and Brendan Conlon, expertly played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, respectively, are far too relatable to those of us watching the screen. We have felt that same sense of both anger and abandonment evident in Tommy, an ex-marine who appears to fight for the sake of dealing with his own personal demons, but also just for the sake of fighting...or so it seems. At the same time, we have also felt (and perhaps many of us are currently feeling) the same sense of frustration and desperation in Brendan, a fighter turned physics teacher faced with the financial hardship of trying to provide for his family on a slim salary. But those emotions are not the only high points of this film. Additionally the theme of redemption is also brought to life in Nick Nolte’s character of Paddy Conlon, a former abusive alcoholic father whose ultimate goal is to finally make peace with his sons, Tommy and Brendan, whom he has wronged. Further still, Brendan’s wife Tess, played by Jennifer Morrison, draws sympathy from the audience for loving her husband so much that she would rather face monetary troubles than see Brendan seriously harmed physically in the cage. Truly, one gets the absolute full range of emotions from this film.

 

 

Complementing the characters that have been created is also an exciting portrayal of the fight world itself. Some matches are over in a matter of seconds while others are absolute battles of attrition in which those involved must truly reach deep within themselves to find what they need to keep fighting and attain the victory. The director also deserves to be complemented for his accurate portrayal of the wide array of techniques used in the fights. Outside of one slightly unbelievable moment in a scene where a power bomb (traditionally a pro wrestling maneuver) is used, the motions of fighting are made both life-like and exciting. Punches and kicks are delivered with devastating power and technical beauty. Submission locks and chokes are applied in a way that almost makes viewers want to yell “Just tap out!”

 

 

This brings me to a more critical viewpoint on Warrior however, as the movie, while certainly well done, is not without its flaws. At times during the fights, characters take the kinds of beatings that make fans and non-fans alike think to themselves "the ref should really stop this!" In reality fights are, for the most part, stopped when it becomes apparent that a combatant can no longer adequately defend himself. True to Hollywood's love for the melodramatic however, the fighters within this story sustain far more punishment than any intelligent governing body would allow. This portrayal again threatens to bring on the "human cockfighting" label. Thankfully, the film's other aspects prove themselves so strong that this flaw does not linger in the minds of most viewers. As for shortcomings with the story itself, one can understand any complaints about the movie containing dozens of typical cinematic clichés because...well...it does. But these are the kinds of clichés that we (and specifically I) as movie lovers have come to adore when they are used to inspire which is what this film does...inspire. As cheesy as it sounds, it inspires us to fight for what is important to us whether that is taking care of those we love, rekindling lost relationships, or for the concept of honor.

 

 

I close this piece by offering one last round of applause for this movie. That applause is for the film's unfortunate, but necessary presentation of the outcome of mixed martial arts fights: out of the two men we all want to win, only one will. Yes, this is a downer of a concept but let us also remember that there are a number of times where just as much can be taken from a loss as can be taken from a victory. In short, I highly recommend this film as it is exactly what the mixed martial arts world has been waiting for: a film of true value. Thanks for reading and remember to keep those hands up!

 

 

-The Blue Eyed Ronin