Haunted by a tragic past, ex-Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for SPARTA, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton), an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin. But when Brendan’s unlikely, underdog rise sets him on a collision course with the unstoppable Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront each other and the forces that pulled them apart, facing off in the most soaring, soul stirring, and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed. — (C) Lionsgate

Kirk Honeycutt

2011-08-10 freshness fresh

Hollywood Reporter The family drama resonates strongly with a resolution that in retrospect seems like the only way the brothers could have rediscovered blood ties. Meanwhile their fights are downright compelling.

Joe Leydon

2011-08-10 freshness fresh

Variety An improbably effective and affecting mix of raw emotions and exciting smackdowns.