WARRIOR
[Film stats: Earned $13.6M domestically. Got 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 92% on Flixster.]
Hello, all!
Do you like MMA? This film is for you. Do you like compelling dramas that address complex family dynamics? This film is for you. If you like both, then this film apparently isn’t for you… that’s the only reason I can discern about why this film didn’t do any better at the box office than it did.
Maybe the UFC crowd heard that this was really a solid drama instead of a crowd-pleasing tale of two brothers’ collision course in the octagon [not the Chuck Norris movie, incidentally]. Maybe the folks who enjoy thoughtful dramas can’t be bothered to tolerate scenes depicting an armbar. Whatever the case, this film failed fairly spectacularly at the box office, so I’m assuming you didn’t see it. Maybe reading today’s submission [sorry, I couldn’t resist] to this ongoing “series” will convince you to give it a try, though.
According to the IMDB, the plot is: “The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.”
The plot is contrived, sure, but it isn’t inconceivable. In fact, something similar occurred recently when two brothers were slated to compete in a high school wrestling tournament. Of course, the real-life version of this particular plot is great drama, but maybe not enough to sell those tickets, so the cinematic version naturally has the two brothers beating the tar out of one another.
In case you’re keen to see Hollyweird’s take on all that brotherly rock ‘em, sock ‘em action, I’ve embedded a trailer for the film below:
Anyone betting on Joel Edgerton in the climactic bout clearly didn’t notice that he was taking on both Tom Hardy *and* Tom Hardy’s traps. But hey, his character teaches physics, so not only does he have a great understanding of leverage and submission holds, but also some terrific classroom discipline. Nothing takes care of chronic absenteeism like a rear naked choke, you know? Anyway, the trailer is a bit misleading with its stirring music and emphasis on quick cuts and action excerpts. The film is a dramatic film with action, not an action film with drama. If that’s something you can handle, then you’re in for a treat with this one.
Enjoy!
P.S. For those of you who give this one a shot and enjoy it, you may also want to check out BLOODSPORT or REDBELT.
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - BARTON FINK; Day 2 - CENTURION; Day 3 - THE BABADOOK; Day 4 - RISEN; Day 5 - CHOPPER; Day 6 - ZERO EFFECT; Day 7 - IN BRUGES; Day 8 - HOUSE OF GAMES; Day 9 - DREDD; Day 10 - THE MISSION]
[Film stats: Earned $13.6M domestically. Got 83% on Rotten Tomatoes and 92% on Flixster.]
Hello, all!
Do you like MMA? This film is for you. Do you like compelling dramas that address complex family dynamics? This film is for you. If you like both, then this film apparently isn’t for you… that’s the only reason I can discern about why this film didn’t do any better at the box office than it did.
Maybe the UFC crowd heard that this was really a solid drama instead of a crowd-pleasing tale of two brothers’ collision course in the octagon [not the Chuck Norris movie, incidentally]. Maybe the folks who enjoy thoughtful dramas can’t be bothered to tolerate scenes depicting an armbar. Whatever the case, this film failed fairly spectacularly at the box office, so I’m assuming you didn’t see it. Maybe reading today’s submission [sorry, I couldn’t resist] to this ongoing “series” will convince you to give it a try, though.
According to the IMDB, the plot is: “The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.”
The plot is contrived, sure, but it isn’t inconceivable. In fact, something similar occurred recently when two brothers were slated to compete in a high school wrestling tournament. Of course, the real-life version of this particular plot is great drama, but maybe not enough to sell those tickets, so the cinematic version naturally has the two brothers beating the tar out of one another.
In case you’re keen to see Hollyweird’s take on all that brotherly rock ‘em, sock ‘em action, I’ve embedded a trailer for the film below:
Anyone betting on Joel Edgerton in the climactic bout clearly didn’t notice that he was taking on both Tom Hardy *and* Tom Hardy’s traps. But hey, his character teaches physics, so not only does he have a great understanding of leverage and submission holds, but also some terrific classroom discipline. Nothing takes care of chronic absenteeism like a rear naked choke, you know? Anyway, the trailer is a bit misleading with its stirring music and emphasis on quick cuts and action excerpts. The film is a dramatic film with action, not an action film with drama. If that’s something you can handle, then you’re in for a treat with this one.
Enjoy!
P.S. For those of you who give this one a shot and enjoy it, you may also want to check out BLOODSPORT or REDBELT.
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - BARTON FINK; Day 2 - CENTURION; Day 3 - THE BABADOOK; Day 4 - RISEN; Day 5 - CHOPPER; Day 6 - ZERO EFFECT; Day 7 - IN BRUGES; Day 8 - HOUSE OF GAMES; Day 9 - DREDD; Day 10 - THE MISSION]
