DVD Reviews

Brothers – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Mar 25, 2010, 16:39 GMT

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. ...more

Brothers is a well acted look at both the horrors of war as well as the horrors that follow a soldier home. The film would garner two Golden Globe nominations (one for Maguire and the other for U2’s closing credit song).

Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is a Marine about to go to Afghanistan. He’s leaving behind his lovely wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and daughters Isabelle (Bailee Madison) and Maggie (Taylor Grace Geare). Before he ships out his brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) has just been released from jail for bank robbery. Sam drives to pick up his brother after his release.

The brotherly reunion is sedate enough but the boy’s father Hank (Sam Shepard) and Grace have thought of Tommy as the black sheep and not as together as Sam. Sam ships out and soon his chopper is shot down over the desert (I debated whether this was a spoiler but it’s all played out in the trailer). Grace gets word that Sam is dead and the whole family goes into mourning.

Tommy decides to man-up and take more responsibility for his life after trying to drink his woes away and his first idea is to finish Grace’s kitchen remodel that Sam never got around to finishing. Sam, however, is not dead and he and Pvt. Joe Willis (Patrick Flueger) have been captured by the Taliban. The militant’s torture and mind games are designed to play with the soldier’s minds and to try and get them to make anti-American statements.

Meanwhile, Grace is learning to live without Sam and Tommy is coming to appreciate his nieces, father, and stepmother Elsie (Mare Winningham). He also gets a bit too close to the lonely Grace and a quick kiss leaves both of them feeling guilty.

The captured soldier’s tortures lead to tragedy, but Sam is rescued. His return home should be a joyous occasion, but Sam is not the man he was when he left and his trauma and paranoia threaten his wife, children, and brother.

Brothers is an Americanized remake of the 2004 Danish film Brodre. I’m not familiar with that film, but from the glimpses given on the special features it appears to follow the same setup.

The original sounds equally as good as this remake so maybe someday I’ll track it down. What this remake has in spades is fantastic performances. Tobey Maguire is given the most press since he was nominated for a Golden Globe, but his costars have equally great work.

Even down to a more minor character like the boy’s father and the two young girls playing Sam’s kids. The movie didn’t appear to get the attention it deserved so it’s ripe for rediscovery on home video. Maguire loses weight and does haunted guilt and paranoia well.

Gyllenhaal is equally effective as his regretful, black sheep brother who has to come to terms with his life after the supposed death of his brother. He tries to help out his sister-in-law and ends up having romantic feelings for her (and played by the lovely Portman who wouldn’t) and ends up feeling guilty over them and even more so when his brother actually turns out to have survived.

Portman is not only a vision of beauty, but too is haunted by the death of her spouse and guilt over a kiss with his brother. Shephard does some fine work as the alcoholic father who comes to realize that he needs to equally love both his kids.

Maybe only Mare Winningham gets little enough screentime that we almost forget she’s there (but effective when present). Brothers is a piece of bravado acting from all parties and an adult drama as opposed to Hollywood candy floss.

Brothers is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.40:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary with director Jim Sheridan. The 12 minute “Remade in the USA” looks at the making of Brothers and the remaking of Brodre. The 16 minute “Jim Sheridan: Film and Family” is a look at Sheridan’s career and methods. There’s also the 2 minute theatrical trailer and previews of other Lionsgate products.

There’s some heavy drama here and those looking for happy endings need not apply as everyone comes out damaged at the end. The actors highlighted here rise mightily to the occasion. If you want to see great performances in an adult drama you’d be advised to seek out Brothers.