Perhaps the one thing Hollywood needs the least is another movie about fighting brothers.
A genre almost in and of itself, this overused storyline dates back all the way to the Bible.
However, when done well, not much can beat it.
Using this recycled storyline at its best is Lionsgate’s new feature “Warrior.”
Starring Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton as the estranged Conlon brothers, “Warrior” combines strong dramatic tones with thrilling action scenes to create one of this year’s biggest surprise hits.
As the industry’s first attempt at creating a movie that revolves around mixed martial arts (MMA), “Warrior” is the classic boxing movie, updated for a new generation.
Even though MMA may not be the first place one would look to find a consise, dramatic storyline, “Warrior” carries one of best and most creative stories of the year.
After going their separate ways when their parents split, Tommy and Brendan Conlon both decide to go with a different parent.
Tom Hardy’s Tommy goes with his mother, who eventually dies of cancer. While Edgerton’s Joel stays with his washed up, alcoholic father played perfectly by Nick Nolte.
When Tommy finds his way back to his Pittsburg upbringing after a tour in Afghanistan and a battle with drugs and alcohol, he and his brother unknowingly enter in the same MMA tournament.
Joel, who despite years of training as a UFC fighter, is now a high school physics teacher struggling to make ends meet.
When the bank threatens to foreclose on his home, Joel turns to fighting to save his family’s well being.
However, his plans backfires as news of the parking-lot fighting physics teacher makes its way back to the school, and Joel is put on a semester long suspension.
When a prized fighter at Joel’s gym becomes injured, the down-on-his-luck physics teacher gets a chance at five million dollars in the fictitious “Super Bowl of MMA” tournament called “Sparta.”
At Sparta, the two brothers breeze their way through the first three rounds and find themselves in the event’s championship, forced to fight each other.
In what will go down as one of the most dramatic scenes of the year, director Gavin O’Connor (Miracle) makes the story of “Cain and Able” look like child’s play.
“Warrior,” progresses to make its audience want both brothers to win.
So when the two fighters find themselves in the same cage, a stalemate seems to be the only option that the movie has left.
However, punches soon land and the brothers come together to resolve their issues the only way they know how — by fighting.
Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton surpass expectations as the Conlon brothers, and Nick Nolte’s portrayal of their father Paddy is right in his wheelhouse.
The trio as a whole are almost unbeatable as an onscreen broken family.
While no one could quite predict it, “Warrior” certainly packs a punch.
“Warrior” opens in theaters nationwide Friday.