Warrior

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a sport which has increased hugely in popularity over the decade building up to 2011, and Warrior does a fantastic job in capturing why the sport has become so popular.

Meatier than recent great fighting films like The Wrestler & The Fighter, it showcases brains, brawn and heart as well as tremendous performances, especially from Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton & Nick Nolte. 

The story is a rather simple one, with two men from different sides of the tracks participating in a ultimate fighting tournament, both for very different reasons. One is a brute of a man, whose key strategy is to simply beat all and sundry, whilst the other has a more technical approach, utilising skills from a variety of martial art styles.

Tom Hardy's is easily the most interesting character in the film, a storm of rage with a rock-hard shell, though morally good on the very inside. It's a strange performance, as it's quite difficult to sympathise with his character during the film's opening act, but he made a good ying to Joel Edgerton's yang, and as the climax approaches, it's virtually impossible to choose a side. 

This isn't a black mark against the film though, it's a fantastic sports drama which wrestles every single emotion into submission.