Were “Warrior” awarded points purely on its late-round rally, this drama set in the street-fight atmosphere of mixed martial arts would be one of the year’s best. Co-writer / director Gavin O’Connor — who knows from superior sports films — lands one gut-punch after another in the third act: Joel Edgerton scrapping against a mad Russian; Nick Nolte cementing his slot in the Best Supporting Actor Oscar race; a feral Tom Hardy fueling an insanely unsentimental climax.
Warrior
Warrior
Warrior
Were “Warrior” awarded points purely on its late-round rally, this drama set in the street-fight atmosphere of mixed martial arts would be one of the year’s best. Co-writer / director Gavin O’Connor — who knows from superior sports films — lands one gut-punch after another in the third act: Joel Edgerton scrapping against a mad Russian; Nick Nolte cementing his slot in the Best Supporting Actor Oscar race; a feral Tom Hardy fueling an insanely unsentimental climax.