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)
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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)
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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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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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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The Danish original and the American remake of the same name can serve as an excellent comparison between European and American (specifically Hollywood) cinema. The European version tends to be more raw, not shying away from controversial topics, and is able to film them in a controversial way. The American version, on the other hand, films the same themes more pleasingly and tames the edges. Both films deal with the aftermath of wartime trauma, but while the Danish version is merciless towards its protagonist, gradually stripping him of everything, including hope, the American version is watered down and lacks the courage to thrust its characters into irreconcilable conflict. The family crisis is actually caused by a misunderstanding and is resolved in a compassionate way leading to forgiveness. Nevertheless, I would not condemn Sheridan's version because the Danish film is burdened by their adherence to Dogme 95. Like any dogma, it restricts, flattens, and irritates. The American version is simply more cinematic, more colorful, and features internationally acclaimed stars. However, I also have a complaint with the American version in that Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman are too sweet and young for the characters they are supposed to portray. It's as if the producer wanted to sell this serious topic to American teenagers. Natalie looks like she had her children while still in high school, and Tobey, who is supposed to play the older, more mature of the two brothers, would be better suited for the role of a younger, immature troublemaker. And one last thing - as selfish as young children can be in their love, what escalated the family conflict is something they would probably never say in the real world, and certainly not think about at their age. Overall impression: 60%.
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All three leads in this movie are showing off here that they work hard for their actor’s wages. The movie is a very nice intimate drama where I'm just not very happy with the ending, so I guess that's why I'm giving it 3 stars. The trailer was a bit misleading for me, I was assuming things that never happened, which is quite a shame because I kind of wished they had (when you see it you’ll understand). I haven't seen the original film, and I don't want to see it. This was enough for me. Maybe I'm just a little more disappointed because I was looking forward to it so much. So – if you want to see some human pain, some human happiness, enjoyable performances by the actors, and a shitty war, this movie is made for you. It's just quite possible that you'll be annoyed at times by the over-smart little girls, but that's become such a trend now, so you just had to get used to it.
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