Warrior (2011)

A nicely paced, well-told, real story with real characters. This is a good fighting movie, probably the best since Rocky.

Hardy, Edgerton, and Nolte all turn in Oscar-worthy performances. I find it interesting that the two quintessential American tough guys were played by non-Americans. A statement on the sad state of American acting? Edgerton could be Sam Worthington and Conan O’Brien’s lovechild.

The action is authentic and even more impressive when you consider that neither of the stars are real fighters. The camera doesn’t shy away, as it could have so easily done, and the editing doesn’t cheapen the action. The brutality adds power to the story.