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Four stars for "Warrior"
Published: 9/8/2011 4:07 PM
Last Modified: 9/8/2011 4:07 PM

"Warrior" earns just the Tulsa World's second four-star review of 2011, and it's one of the best sports dramas I've ever seen, and I've seen most of them.

This picture about mixed martial arts opens Friday in Tulsa at AMC Southroads 20, Cinemark Tulsa, Cinemark Broken Arrow and Starworld 20. I went in not knowing much about mixed martial arts, so don't be hesitant to attend, especially if you are as big a fan of boxing movies from the past as I am.

The action is great, but the performances are the key to this story of a broken family full of men fighting for a shot at a title, sure, but more importantly for a chance at redemption.

"Warrior" plays a like a modern "Rocky," and I'm referring to the first film in that series.

Tom Hardy, who memorably played the identity forger in "Inception," creates an iconic bruiser of a character, and anyone intrigued by this man who plays the villain in the next “Dark Knight” movie shouldn't miss this picture.

Joel Edgerton, another up-and-coming actor who was so good last year in the Australian mob movie "Animal Kingdom" is excellent in a low-key manner, pulling off the family man that will connect most closely with viewers.

The fact that these two play brothers in the film becomes an incredibly compelling part of the movie considering that they haven't seen one another in more than a decade, and they're fighting for the same prize.

As their dad, Nick Nolte's fallen father portrayal is so honest and pathetic in turns, begging for forgiveness and raging against sins he can never take back, that it's nothing short of heartbreaking.

Take a look at the trailer for "Warrior," opening Friday.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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