The charismatic Tom Hardy (
Bronson) stars as an angry Iraq war veteran who returns to working-class Pittsburgh to confront his recovering alcoholic father (Nick Nolte) but also to win his help in training for a mixed martial arts tournament. The situation is further complicated when his brother (Joel Edgerton of
Animal Kingdom), who can barely support his family as a high school physics teacher, enters the same competition. Directed by Gavin O’Connor (
Miracle,
Pride and Glory), this high-powered sports melodrama benefits from its strong male leads, a sinewy narrative, and the maverick attitude of MMA. But for all the contemporary references, it’s essentially a spin on the story of Cain and Abel, which may be the reason it feels timeless.
By
Andrea Gronvall