Warrior

Bulky brothers go head to head in this action drama aimed at the ‘Rocky’ market. Joel Edgerton is Brendan, a father and fighter-turned-teacher struggling in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, former Marine Tommy (Tom Hardy) trains for the same martial arts title. Both need the money and they have the same father, Paddy (Nick Nolte).

‘Warrior’ has many things going for it, not least its cast. Edgerton is supremely sympathetic as the cash-strapped father while Hardy’s in his element as the strong silent type and Nolte’s on fine growling form as a repentant alcoholic. The fight scenes are well choreographed and suspenseful. Plotwise, the film is on less solid ground, relying on cliché and coincidence with backstory holes that feel more like editing errors than subtleties. When someone orders Tommy to hand over his pills, that’s the first and last we hear of any drug problem. This doesn’t pack a punch like ‘The Fighter’ – but it’s still a must for grapple fans.