We know Tom Hardy can muscle up and beat the living snot out of someone on camera when the role demands it (Bronson), but can Joel Edgerton? On the evidence of the trailer for mixed martial arts-meets-family dysfunction drama Warrior, the answer is: yup. Or perhaps: yes, sir Mr Edgerton, please stop hitting me.
Warrior finds Hardy as war vet Tommy Riordan, a man haunted by tragedies in his past who reaches out to his recovering alcoholic father (Nick Nolte) to train him so that he can win a massive MMA tournament in Vegas and reclaim his honour while scoring a healthy cash prize.
At the same time, his estranged bother Brendan (Edgerton), who walked away from the MMA life to support his wife (Jennifer Morrison) and kids as a schoolteacher, finds himself unable to cope in the recession and starts his own bid to fight in the event. Bet you can’t guess what happens…
For all the rugged blokes/family drama cliché alerts that pop up while watching this trailer from Pride and Glory director Gavin O’Connor, the leading performances, particularly from Edgerton and Hardy, look like they could help it punch above its weight. Gloves crossed...
The trailer can be found at Apple, while Warrior will be out on September 23.