2) Warrior
One of my all time favorite movies is one that was unfortunately overlooked by many, including myself (originally). I really didn’t care and don’t care for sports-themed film, as they all end up being a little too sappy on the inspiration. Was Warrior any different? Not really. Logline: Two estranged brothers compete for the ultimate prize that will change their lives. Not much promise, is there?
Well, you’d be surprised at just how heart-wrenching the movie is. In this particular case, I would have to give all the credit to director Gavin O’Connor and the performances that he was able to get out of his actors. Their ability to tap into that raw emotion and punch you in the face with it was unparalleled. Nick Nolte’s chilling performance as Paddy Conlon earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, which was well-deserved, especially for his drunken confrontation with Tom Hardy’s character, Tommy Riordan.
I can’t recommend this movie enough, and everyone who I’ve forced to watch it has been singing praises. Of course, they were all reluctant at first seeing as how uninspiring the story seemed, but they all shut their mouths and were put in their place after finishing this masterpiece. Seriously, go watch it, you won’t be disappointed.