MOVIE REVIEW - Warrior

Warrior is out this week and is being billed as a Mixed Martial Arts movie. But in effect, it is so very much more.

Yes, to get a young audience to get interested in this movie, MMA is the preview focal point, as this sport is sweeping the country in popularity. But the depth of this movie is so far beyond the violent sport, it will be a wonderful surprise for many who go see it. Warrior is well written, and should be noted is very adult.

Warrior is the story of two brothers now grown. Each has taken a different path after the death of their mother who was abused by her then drunken husband. One has become a teacher with a family of his own, and is on the verge of losing his home to foreclosure. The younger brother joined the Marines, and has a storied past with them in Iraq. Their father who is still alive, has gone sober. And in their youth was a great fight trainer, and taught both boys how to box and wrestle.

The relationship between them all is strained horribly, and filled with anger and bitterness. The dad is trying to put it all together again, but it seems too late. Then as fate would have it, a huge MMA event is created, and both brothers enter the field of 16 in Atlantic City. Winner take all, a 5 million dollar pay day. Dad is coaching one of the boys, and the other is being handled professionally. Who will win? And what road will each travel to this event.

First off, I am going to glow over this movie. I am not a big MMA fan at all, and learned much about it during this movie. But this movie is absolutely outstanding. Period! The story is such the star, and the performances are so great by a stable of under the radar stars and that really works. Very skillful casting allowing this fantastic script to shine brightly. The makers knew what they had here and really knew what they were doing. Nick Nolte as the father does anchor a stellar cast and gives it a bit of star power. But how great was that decision. Nolte in real life, maybe a bit past his prime, aging, and not what he once was. Simply genius. Everyone cast in this movie is simply perfect for their roles, and really deliver incredible performances.

The MMA scenes are violent, but are handled with such drama, such skill, and not over the the top silly. Extremely real, but not really bloody or distasteful. Quick and to the point, heavily dramatic, and not over-killed. Characters are deeply developed with body language and terrific dialogue, and a sense of realism is cast over this whole project. But to repeat this movie uses MMA as its young appeal sport, but this movie is way, way more.

Warrior. Best new movie in a while, and one of the years best movies so far. Simply great!!