With 2011 officially in the books, it’s time once again to look back and reflect on some of the best films that have come out in the past year. As with all movie writers, coming up with a list like this is usually expected, but also damn near impossible. To me, reading and writing these types of articles are only beneficial in spreading word about titles that really had an effect on me, while stirring up debate between those who strongly agree with my choices, or vehemently disagree. No one list is ever truly definitive; what is considered great to one may not register the same way to another. The only real truth is that 2011 had a wide range of very interesting and fascinating films, and just like every year, there’s always a good handful worth noting.
Film Review – Warrior
Everyone loves an underdog film. Not only that, but everyone loves a sports/underdog film. They come about nearly every year, and they usually follow the same pattern: a person down on their luck, financially unstable, with a family in disarray and a life on the brink of disaster. Through hard work, dedication, and perseverance, they rise out of the ashes to become the champion of their sport and magically fix everything about themselves in the span of a few hours. Cue the heavy emotional music, add a couple of tears, a pinch of sugar, and bam! You’ve got yourself a finely made sports/underdog story with all the trimmings you can ask for! Warrior (2011) follows this outline pretty much step by step, and does it well. The twist here is, instead of one person’s journey to redemption, you have a pair of brothers. Two underdog stories for the price of one.
