Directed by:
Jim SheridanCinematography:
Frederick ElmesComposer:
Thomas NewmanCast:
Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Sam Shepard, Mare Winningham, Bailee Madison, Taylor Geare, Patrick John Flueger, Clifton Collins Jr. (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Captain Sam Cahill (Maguire) is embarking on his fourth tour of duty, leaving behind his beloved wife (Portman) and two daughters. When Sam's Blackhawk helicopter is shot down in the mountains of Afghanistan, the worst is presumed, leaving an enormous void in the family. Despite a dark history, Sam's charismatic younger brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal) steps in to fill the family void. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (12)
Great acting is what it's all about. Unlike the author of the original version, Susanne Bier, the experienced Jim Sheridan unequivocally opted for a fluent and orthodox melodramatic style – the film Brothers is crafted and tight, is able to hit the first signal precisely, but after watching the film, a strange emptiness remains. The film hides nothing under its pretty facade except for a kind of careful pacifism and simple psychology. The music by U2 goes well with it. The fact that it’s well made and has decent moral appeals is easily interchangeable with ideological neutrality.
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After watching the film, I was a little disappointed with my initial expectations, as I was lured in by the great cast, the strong theme and the enticing trailer. The acting is top notch - especially Tobey Maguire and the young Bailee Madison. The theme may be simple (family crisis + inability to return to reality), but it's still pretty ageless. The film could have been a bit more heated and I was struck by the quick ending. The best scenes were the ones in Afghanistan and the daughter's birthday party. In short, a film from which more could have been wrung!
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Jim Sheridan approached this cleverly. He doesn't turn the cold atmosphere of the original film into emotional blackmail, but still doesn't want to immerse the viewer in the same filth as the characters. He maintains a reasonable distance with a creatively crafted soundtrack and warm camera work, and surprisingly wins the battle against comparison to the original. The original Brothers and its all-encompassing depression lost strength at certain moments, but here the irretrievable loss of idyll due to its more honest depiction is even more fatal.
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I didn't expect it to ever happen again, but after all the Ryans, Lists and Apocalypses, my dislike of war has now deepened even further. It’s not complex or strongly patriotic, it’s an emotionally gripping psychological drama that says what it wants to say and still manages to entertain with thoughtful dramaturgy and performances. And if you're a guy and you like Natalie Portman, you've got one more reason to watch. 85%
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I like Sheridan's directorial style and the sufficient rawness you see in some cleverly edited scenes. There are some things we’ve seen a hundred times over and some that are interesting. Definitely an unusual perspective on war syndrome and depression that many people have, but without unnecessary moralizing and exaggerated wisdom. Good acting performances in a film that has something to say.
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