The Ending: In the final fight of the mixed martial arts tournament, Brendan (Joel Edgerton) dislocates his brother Tommy's (Tom Hardy) shoulder, and after a protracted battle, manages to convince Tommy to trap out and end the fight, telling his brother that he loves him. The two then embrace as they leave the ring, with the military police waiting to arrest Tommy for his prior desertion from the army, but the brothers are reconciled, much to the satisfaction of their alcoholic father Paddy (Nick Nolte), who looks on with a smile. Why It's Awesome: It brings this lengthy sports drama to an emotionally gratifying close without chickening out on the dilemma over which brother would win. The movie makes it easy to root for both fighters, but in the end, the right man wins, and there's a tremendous feeling of relief when it's all over, that things are going to get a little better (even if Tommy is probably still going to jail). Plus, the climactic song from The National, About Today, is superbly placed here and amplifies the emotion considerably.
Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes).
General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.
