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Warrior

year 2011decade 10sdirector Gavin O'Connorgenre Sports drama

140 minutes

IMDb
Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Warrior | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonsguest Ryen Russilloproducer Craig Horlbeck
Explore episodeClose episode

What’s Aged the Best?

Hardy’s range, the Sparta concept, fight photography, the casino confrontation, Nolte, and Jennifer Morrison lead the discussion.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 00:14:27Read transcript
  • Hardy is praised for moving between unusual roles rather than repeating one star persona.
  • The MMA scenes remain believable because geography, distance, and brief in-cage shots preserve the feeling of watching a real event.
  • The sixteen-fighter Sparta structure is praised as a stronger version of an older tough-man-tournament premise.
  • The casino confrontation and its payoff in the hotel relapse remain the strongest dramatic material.
  • Nolte’s lived experience with alcohol is connected to the force of the hotel performance.
  • Jennifer Morrison is praised for playing a spouse who becomes supportive rather than remaining a stock obstacle.
  • Nolte’s long career, relapses, and comebacks give the role additional weight.
  • Tommy entering without music and leaving immediately after wins is praised as a durable signature.

Roger Ebert's review

Roger Ebert’s stated score is three stars.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:28:57Read transcript
  • The stated score is three stars.
  • The quoted review says this is a rare fight movie in which the audience does not want either fighter to lose.

Most Rewatchable Scene

Tommy’s first sparring fight is one favorite; the final round is the other, with the slot-machine confrontation treated as the best dramatic scene rather than the most rewatchable.

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:37:51Read transcript
  • Tommy volunteering to spar and rapidly destroying Mad Dog is selected for its physical shock and front-desk details.
  • Tommy surrendering his pills when asking his father to train him is another choice.
  • The multi-screen training montage is praised for accelerating the story.
  • Brendan's first Sparta fight is praised for the corner urging him not to tap through the end of the round.
  • The montage advancing both brothers to the final four is cited as highly rewatchable.
  • Brendan's third round against COBA is praised for the corner speech connecting victory to saving the house.
  • The final-fight entrances, cheap shot, broken arm, and last round set to the closing song form the final choice.
  • Tommy's first sparring scene is the other final choice because Hardy immediately sells the dangerous character.
  • The casino confrontation is called the best dialogue scene but too painful to be the most rewatchable.

What’s Aged the Worst?

The slow opening, changing attitudes toward MMA, the underwritten promoter, and the scarcity of brother-to-brother scenes receive criticism.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:28Read transcript
  • The first forty minutes are slow for repeat viewing, though the pace is defended as purposeful.
  • A teacher fighting MMA would likely be admired by students now rather than carrying the same stigma.
  • The hedge-fund promoter played by the director is judged less vivid than the role's potential.
  • Brendan's wife briefly follows the familiar wet-blanket pattern before supporting him.
  • One more scene between the brothers before their final fight is requested.

Casting What-Ifs

The studio resisted Nick Nolte, Kurt Angle plays Koba, and several supporting roles drew on real combat-sports figures.

This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:54:40Read transcript
  • The filmmakers held firm on Nolte after the studio resisted casting him.
  • Koba's name is identified as a Stalin nickname and the Russian-villain choice is discussed.
  • Brian Callen based his commentator on Joe Rogan and Frank Grillo based his trainer on Greg Jackson.

The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award

The unnamed school administrator wins because the panel can cite many roles while refusing to look up his name.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 00:57:16Read transcript
  • The school administrator is recognized from Dave, Mad Love, a television vice-president role, and Transformers without the panel naming the actor.

The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award

Mad Dog wins because Nolte’s louder work is considered justified; Jon Anik is also criticized.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 00:58:14Read transcript
  • Nolte's intensity is defended as earned by the character's history.
  • Mad Dog is selected for pushing the smarmy antagonist performance during both stare-downs.
  • Anik's brief performance as the Sparta host is criticized before the category ends.

The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance

Frank Grillo wins, with the gym front-desk worker receiving an honorable mention; Kurt Angle and Don Lemon are also considered.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:59:05Read transcript
  • Grillo wins for his forceful corner work.
  • The front-desk worker's waiver check, video, and later excitement make him the efficiency alternate.
  • Koba is considered, with Kurt Angle identified in the role.
  • Don Lemon's cameo is also considered.

Recasting Couch

Stanley Tucci is proposed as the Sparta promoter.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:00:06Read transcript
  • Stanley Tucci is proposed to add self-aware comic energy to three promoter scenes.

Half-Assed Internet Research

Research covers injuries, the final song, an unused diner scene, Pittsburgh locations, remakes, and the release strategy.

In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:02Read transcript
  • Hardy gained twenty-eight pounds and carried the muscle into his next major role.
  • Edgerton tore his MCL and fight photography paused for six weeks.
  • Hardy sustained a broken toe, ribs, and finger during production.
  • The writers chose the National's closing song before writing the final scene and looped it while shaping the action.
  • A Nolte diner scene earned a first-day crew ovation but did not enter the finished movie.
  • The Iraq scenes were filmed in a Pittsburgh parking lot.
  • The story was remade as Brothers in India and again under the same title in Russia.
  • The director wanted a slow platform release, while the wider launch failed and was quickly pulled.

Apex Mountain

The episode tests apex cases for the director, Hardy, Edgerton, Nolte, Atlantic City, underground MMA movies, Grillo, Pittsburgh, Brian Callen, and Sparta.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:05Read transcript
  • The movie is called the director's artistic apex despite its original commercial failure.
  • Bane is selected as Hardy's apex, with Mad Max, Dunkirk, and Inception considered.
  • Sparta is proposed as an Atlantic City apex before Rounders and a Sopranos reference are considered.
  • Nick Nolte receives an explicit apex check and is rejected.
  • The film is selected as Edgerton's apex because he holds his own opposite Hardy as a leading man.
  • Underground MMA movies and Sparta are declared apex cases.
  • Grillo and Brian Callen are placed near their apexes, while Pittsburgh is placed with its 1979 sports teams and The Deer Hunter.

Picking Nits

Tournament entry, scheduling, UFC competition, internet exposure, recovery, odds, and montage length are questioned.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:48Read transcript
  • Both unknown brothers entering a sixteen-person five-million-dollar tournament so easily is questioned.
  • Consecutive-day fights would create unacceptable health risk.
  • A non-UFC promoter finding sixteen credible fighters in 2011 is debated.
  • Tommy's desertion and the brothers' relationship should have surfaced online before the final.
  • Brendan fighting again immediately after the COBA bout is considered implausible.
  • A thousand-to-one price on a former UFC fighter in a sixteen-person field is rejected as impossible bookmaking risk.
  • The montages are long but defended as necessary and as a Rocky homage.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Questions test Hardy’s possible star range, an alternate final, the broken shoulder, and real examples of fighting through injury.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:40Read transcript
  • Hardy is compared with DiCaprio to ask whether softer leading-man roles were ever plausible for him.
  • A Koba-versus-Tommy final is rejected because the brothers’ fight resolves the family story without diminishing Tommy.
  • The exact shoulder or elbow injury and whether a real commission would stop the fight are questioned.
  • A real bout in which an arm broke before the fighter submitted is offered as evidence of extreme pain tolerance.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

Fight-worn gloves or trunks win over the Walkman, Moby-Dick recording, coins, and entrance pullover.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:20:17Read transcript
  • The Walkman, Moby-Dick tape, thrown coins, and Tommy's entrance pullover are considered.
  • Fight-worn gloves or trunks are the preferred objects.

Who Won the Movie?

Nick Nolte wins.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:10Read transcript
  • Nolte wins for generating sympathy through the relapse and the small smile at the ending.
  • Hardy is the only serious alternate before the consensus returns to Nolte.
Podcast choices
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More from the conversation

The opening argues MMA offers more believable upset mechanics and screen action than boxing.
Approx. transcript time · 00:02:33Read transcript
The movie’s commercial failure and long cable and streaming afterlife make it an underdog rewatchable in its own right.
Approx. transcript time · 00:06:32Read transcript
The director’s sports films are praised for placing authentic sport inside larger character stories.
Approx. transcript time · 00:10:44Read transcript
A four-director sports-movie Mount Rushmore names Ron Shelton, John Avildsen, Gavin O’Connor, and Michael Ritchie.
Approx. transcript time · 00:20:23Read transcript
The 2011 awards field is reviewed to argue that Warrior, Hardy, Nolte, and the director were overlooked.
Approx. transcript time · 00:26:14Read transcript
Russillo recounts being hired to host a supposed Boston premiere that turned out to be a nearly empty weekday screening in Braintree.
Approx. transcript time · 00:30:19Read transcript