Brothers

Rating: Null/10 (10 February 2017)

Tensions flare up even further between two estranged brothers when they discover that they are both competing in the same mixed martial arts tournament in this frequently rousing if rather predictable sports drama. It is not hard to guess early on which two competitors will end fighting for first place and the whole idea of the brothers being brought back together after so many years to erase the bad blood between them is hardly spectacular. The performances are, however, solid throughout with Joel Edgerton crafting a highly sympathetic character out of his high school science teacher turned fighter, set on the top prize to pay off the bank and preventing them repossessing his house. Jennifer Morrison is pretty good as his wife too, even if she is reduced to mere reaction shots towards the end. As the other brother, Tom Hardy's reasons for fighting are not quite as compelling, but he delivers well too, though the best of the very best performance of the film comes from Oscar nominated Nick Nolte as the recovering alcoholic father of the two men who sees an opportunity to get his family back, if only his two sons do not kill themselves in the ring. The fight scenes are compelling too, though they only occur in the second half of the movie and clocking in at almost two and a half hours, this is not a light and breezy affair. It is, however, more encapsulating than one might imagine given the formulaic premise and familiar sibling rivalry themes, which really goes to show how much can be achieved simply by casting all pivotal roles exceptionally well.