Warrior is story of two estranged brothers, Tommy (Tom Hardy) and Brendan (Joel Edgerton) who enter a mixed martial arts tournament and face off against each other in the final.
Of course like The Fighter, which released the year before, it’s about much more than just the fighting. Warrior follows a very similar narrative arc to The Fighter, where the family reconcile their differences and redemption is delivered with a punch in the face and knee to the gut.
Nick Nolte plays Paddy, Tommy and Brendan’s father. A recovering alcoholic and wife beater, he’s fallen out with his two sons. It’s a story of his redemption too. Nolte has the perfect face for these sort of roles. One look at his care worn face, pitted with the scars of battle and age and he’s totally believable as Paddy.
Nolte expertly illuminates the exhaustion of a man, who knows that his life is one endless string of regrets. Nolte is very good in the movie, but he’s also in his comfort zone. In some ways Nolte, with his drug problems and ex-wives, is Paddy. And I’m not sure if mostly playing yourself deserves a nomination.
Nominated for:
Best actor in a supporting role
