Ever since Cain killed Abel, brothers have been at each other’s throats in a fierce competition for success, respect and love. Jim Sheridan’s Brothers, a remake of the 2004 Danish film Brødre, approaches this common social scenario with an intriguing story that investigates human relationships and the grayscale of morality.
The film begins just before upstanding citizen and soldier Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is deployed to Afghanistan. His screw-up brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), is released from prison. When the family is later informed that Sam’s helicopter was shot down and he is thought to be dead, Tommy decides to step up and help take care of Sam’s wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), and two daughters. Sam is not dead, however, and returns home emotionally and psychologically scarred from his experiences as a P.O.W. Lost in paranoia and pain, Sam is unable to deal with his own postwar trauma and pushes himself away from his loved ones. He accuses Grace and Tommy of infidelity and scares his daughters enough to make them hate him.
Maguire, Gyllenhaal and Portman all play their roles beautifully and the rest of the cast supports them well. The film’s weakest points are during the first half, when Sam is still imprisoned. The story moves slowly and schizophrenically. It tries to contrast the light, easy life in cool, snow-covered America with the dry, harsh conditions of war in jagged-edged Afghanistan, but instead shifts focus and mood too often and too abruptly, disabling the viewer from truly being engaged.
Sam and Grace’s daughters (Bailee Madison and Taylor Geare) add an interesting dimension to the plot. At certain points they provide lighthearted comic relief while at others they catalyze the most intense drama. The daughters also have their own rivalry, which mirrors that of the adult brothers.
Brothers explores human nature and relationships in some of the most undesirable physical and emotional conditions. Although the first half feels distant and yawn-worthy at times, the drama and acting at the climax and conclusion make it a memorable and worthwhile film that will leave you moved.
4 stars
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire
Rated R, 110 min.
