Movie Review: Brothers

by Justin Velasquez

December 5, 2009

What would you do if you found out the one you love had died?  How would you react?  How would you cope?  The film Brothers, definitely inspired by Homer's The Odyssey, explores those questions and applies them to a loving family that begins the film on the better side of perfect. 

Brothers stars talented young actors Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man), Jake Gyllenhaal and Academy Award nominee Natalie Portman (the upcoming Black Swan), the film centers on a military family coming to grips with the apparent loss of one of their own and the black sheep brother who comes in to help fill the void.  Maguire plays Sam Cahill, an all-American poster boy.  Sam is an overachiever, a Marine Corps Captain, husband to the beautiful Grace (Portman) and father to two amazing daughters.  His success is easily the description of the American dream.  Sam is readying himself for his upcoming tour of duty in Afghanistan and at the same time baby brother Tommy (Gyllenhaal) is out on parole.  Tommy is the complete opposite of Sam - he lived a more maligned life since he was in and out of trouble and at odds (then and now) with their father, Hank (Sam Shepard). 

Despite those troubles Tommy takes it upon himself to help pick up the pieces of a shattered family when they are informed that Sam died while in Afghanistan.  The loss comes as a major shock to all of the Cahill clan and Tommy unexpectedly conjures up a previously unseen maturity to take care of Grace and daughters Isabelle (Bailee Madison) and Maggie (Taylor Geare).  Grace, who never liked Tommy because of all the trouble he got himself into, sees this change and naturally finds herself drawn to Tommy in light of all her pain and suffering.  Tommy, too, is attracted to Grace as he gets to know her better and realizes that she's the not the "stuck-up" woman he imagined her to be.

Incredibly, Sam isn't dead and is rescued after a small fire-fight.  Sam was held prisoner, along with another soldier, by Taliban fighters after their Black Hawk was shot down.  Another shock is administered to the Cahill's as they astonishingly prepare for the unexpected return of the man they believed to be dead.

Sam returns home to a house with a newly remodeled kitchen, thanks to Tommy and his old high school buddies.  The kitchen isn't the only thing that's changed as it's become obvious that everyone has changed, too.  Sam underwent a metamorphosis after a grossly severe experience which threatens to take his humanity and morality.  Grace is changed because of the severe and constant role change of wife to widow and then back to wife, all the while trying to make sense of her attraction to Tommy.  Tommy is basking in his newfound confidence and the newly-formed image of himself.  The roles have switched where Sam is now the black sheep to Tommy's family-man status.

Sam's altered personality is felt throughout.  He's distant towards Grace and the girls and his abnormal personality acts as a dagger cutting through the entire family.  He won't speak of the atrocities that he witnessed while imprisoned and those close to him hope that time and love will help him recover.  But paranoia has crept into Sam's mind and he suspects that Grace and Tommy have been sleeping together.  Everything comes to a titillating climax when young Isabelle, out of anger and jealousy, showers a stinging comment during Maggie's birthday party after being scolded by Sam.

Brothers is a remake of the 2004 Danish film, Brødre, and director Jim Sheridan (In America, In the Name of the Father) took special care to capitalize on the impressive acting abilities of Maguire, Portman and Gyllenhaal.  He, in just about all of his films, has always been able to show the human side of any person regardless of the type of person they are.  This strength is only heightens the drama of this already-remarkable film.  Brothers has an intensity is constantly present, especially in the scenes where Maguire's Sam is hostage.  Gyllenhaal plays the bad boy well and he continues the strong acting he previously displayed in Jarhead and Brokeback Mountain.  Portman plays the role of grieving wife and mother very well even though she honestly looks too young to be a mother.  In fact, all the actors look too young to be playing such complex and mature characters, but they disappear into these roles so convincingly that all three performances are that much more impressive. 

Brothers does move slow at times but the story, along with the acting, is definitely worth checking out.  A perfect film for military families out there, it also reaches out to those who've ever been at odds with a spouse, a sibling, a parent or even a child.  Its intensity may be too much for some viewers but just like in life some things are never easy.  Brothers is a different kind of family film, one that displays the difficulties of maintaining one during times of pain and suffering.

3.5 Stars out of Four