Two estranged brothers and Mixed Martial Arts fighters confront the forces that tore their family apart as they prepare to do battle in the ring in this drama from director Gavin O'Connor (Pride and Glory). Tommy Conlon (Tom Hardy) is an ex-Marine from Pittsburgh who's never quite shaken his troubled past. Upon learning that the purse in an upcoming MMA tournament is the largest in the league's history, Tommy recruits his father, Paddy (Nick Nolte), a former coach and recovering alcoholic, to whip him into shape in time for the competition. Meanwhile, as Tommy steadily ascends the ranks by defeating one powerful opponent after another, his brother, Brendan, struggles to provide for his family with his job as a public school teacher. A former MMA fighter with a devastating punch, Brendan begins to wonder if he, too, could have a shot at winning the coveted purse. In time, Brendan and Tommy both emerge as dark horse contenders in the competition, setting the two brothers on a brutal collision course. But Tommy and Brendan's biggest battle won't be fought in the ring -- it will be fought in their hearts and minds. Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Category Family Drama, Psychological Drama, Sports Drama
- Theme: Underdogs, Sibling Relationships, Haunted By the Past, Estrangement
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Run Time: 02 hr 20 min
- Language: English
- Subtitle Language: English, Spanish
- Picture Format: widescreen
- Format: Blu-ray
- Release Date: December 20, 2011
- Lead Actor: Joel Edgerton, Tom Hardy, Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Nick Nolte
- Supporting Actor: Tom Hardy, Joshua Rosenthal, Denzel Whitaker, Bryan Callen, Kevin Dunn, Laura Kenley, Capri Thomas, Maximiliano Hernandez, Sam Sheridan, Fernando Chien, Jake McLaughlin, Vanessa Martinez, Tim "Skyskrape" Katz, Julia Stockstad, Carlos Miranda, Kurt Angle, Nick Lehane, Erik Apple, Dan "Punkass" Caldwell, Nate Marquardt, Lexi Cowan, Noah Emmerich, Roan Carneiro, Daniel Stevens, Panuvat Anthony Nanakornpanom, Hans Marrero, Yves Edwards, Amir Perets, Anthony Johnson, Jimmy Cvetic, Jace Jeanes, Jake Digman, Richard Fike, Andre Mason, James Houk, Aaron Kleiber, Raymond Rowe, Anthony Tambakis, Lambert R. Strayer, Roman Vasylyshyn, Jonathan Matthew Anik, Rashad Evans, Stephan Bonnar, Michelle Dawn Mooney, Tim Bickel, Jack Fischer, Jeff Hochendoner, Armon York, Adam Christian Stanley, James Dreussi, Kevin P. Hanley, Tammy Townsend, Etta Cox, Sandy Notaro, Francesca Ortenzio, Jaime Sinue Aguirre, Tracy Campbell, Thomas McCue
- Director: Gavin O'Connor
awards
- Nominations: Academy Awards (1)
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Supporting Actor, 2011, Nick Nolte