Nolte for the Oscar!

Rating: 9/10 (29 November 2011)

Warrior is a befitting descendant to the Rocky series and more recently The Fighter.
Stallone shone not just as an actor, but more importantly, as the writer of the legendary fight movie (Oscar nominations for best actor, writer). Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale added to Hollywood's fight legacy with splendid performances in The Fighter (Bale did get the best supporting actor Oscar for the same ... and deservingly so).
"Warrior" too is characterized by absolutely superlative performances by the trio - Nick Nolte, Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton.
The story revolves around a broken family - two separated brothers (Hardy and Edgerton) and their father (Nick Nolte). Nolte plays a retired mixed martial arts champ who was responsible for breaking up his family. The reason is never known - but that does not dampen the story as it unfolds. He wants in, into the lives of his sons, but is constantly shunned out by them.
Edgerton plays the elder brother, now married (to the lovely Jennifer Morrison of House MD fame - definitely want more of her!!), with two daughters and pressing financial needs. His portrayal as a 'Physics teacher' though short, is endearing. Hardy appears out of nowhere, before his father, after years of separation - as the story unfolds one realizes his secret past.
The brothers, each of their own needs, decide to take up the UCF challenge with a heavy financial reward for the winner of the tournament. Their quest sets them up on a physical and emotional confrontation with each other.
The fight sequences are grueling and elaborate - both actors evidently have worked hard at making them realistic. The sequences are absolutely stunning - the ones with Hardy for his sheer attitude around demolishing his opponent and the ones with Edgerton for his stunning Rocky-like portrayal of an unlikely underdog giving everything he has in every round.
But the highlights of the movie are clearly the heart-wrenching moments between the father and his sons. Nolte simply excels as the remorseful father trying everything he can to become a part of his sons' lives.
Though this is definitely a fight movie, the emotional quotient of the movie almost makes the elaborate fight sequences seem like an afterthought! Three cheers for Nolte, Hardy and Edgerton! Oscar nominations for the movie and the three leads for sure!!