Contributor: Kyle Smeby

It's a bad time to be a good independent movie in limited release, but that's the position that Peaceful Warrior finds itself in. With good family fare like Pixar's Cars, and summer blockbusters like Superman Returns attracting crowds into the megaplexes; and the independent theatres showcasing a glut of well-publicized indy movies like A Prairie Home Companion, Wordplay and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth it will be a tough crowd to get noticed in. Perhaps an even bigger challenge is the seemingly familiar and cliché nature of the story Peaceful Warrior tells.

While we've all certainly seen this premise before, Peaceful Warrior is more than just another, "up and coming athlete must overcome a career ending injury" story. Based on the book Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman the movie is an admittedly fictionalized retelling of the author's life focusing mainly on his college years--which is why the movie bears the subtitle/disclaimer of, "inspired by true events." What makes this movie different is that the injury is not the fulcrum of the story as one might expect. The story actually hinges on the main character's choice between self-realization and self-gratification. The conflict we are introduced to early in the story is that the main character begins to feel dissatisfied with his seemingly perfect life. The training and rehabilitation after the injury are largely taken for granted. It's the characters mental journey and his reason for battling back that are the actual focal point of the story.

This is why Peaceful Warrior is a movie you need to see. In most movies of this kind the characters don't usually ask why they must come back from injury. Their success in whatever it is they do is so important that their injury and pain can't stand in the way of their objective. That kind of drive and tenacity is inspiring in one way but the lessons often don't extend beyond the physical prowess and environment surrounding the main character. Peaceful Warrior is relevant to your life because it's not about injury or athletics, although they play a part in the movie, it's about why you do whatever it is you do. Be it gymnastics, accounting, pumping gas, or painting pictures, Peaceful Warrior asks why you do it and will it make you happy.

So can Nick Nolte really tell you how to be happy? The short answer is no. But that's the point, only you can tell you what's going to make you happy, but are you really listening to yourself? Or are you suppressing what you really want to do so you can pay the bills or get ahead? Do you even remember what it is you really wanted anymore? Nick has some good advice from this script that might help you start listening to yourself again and he delivers it well. While it may seem odd coming from a person like Nick Nolte, who's better known for his mug shot than his sage advice, most critics agree his less than perfect past almost gives him more credibility as a guru. One review read, "Nolte portrays Socrates with the realistic essence of a doctor who might show up at the hospital chewing Nicorette." He's made mistakes, he's human, but he's trying to better himself. I'd trust him to know the way more than someone who's never been down a dark path or at least wants you to believe he hasn't.

With all that said, I want to add that the movie isn't perfect. They rush things a lot in the beginning (like in the book) they cheat in a couple of places (although in very forgivable ways that help visualize some very abstract mental processes) and some characters are left underdeveloped, but these things won't distract you from the message of the film and as such they are trivial matters of opinion.

Visit the movies website here:
http://www.thepeacefulwarriormovie.com/

Showtimes and Locations here:
http://www.peacefulwarrior.net/theaters

If there are no showtimes in your area consider calling your local theater and asking them to get it. This is a low budget movie and they are counting on grassroots support and word of mouth to make it a success. Otherwise plan a road trip to a theater that has it. Support the movies you believe in and they will make more.

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