Brothers (2009)

Directed by, Jim Sheridan__Starring, Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, & Jake Gyllenhaal.

"Brothers," is a portrait of the powerful affliction and anguish war can have on a soldier and his/her loved ones. It tells the story of a man who comforts the family of his brother, who is feared to have been killed in action while serving in Afghanistan. Brothers, is an all around compelling drama that is emotionally draining, and heart wrenching.


Surprising, is the first thing that must be said of this film. Both the story, and the acting took me off guard, and I walked out of the theater a respectfully shocked critic. When I first saw the pitch for this film, it came across  as a sleazy, cheap idea for a drama. I'm so glad I gave it a chance though, because that is not the case at all. This film is heavy. Tobey Maguire (who plays Lt. Sam Cahill) delivers his absolute finest performance to date, as he characterizes a soldier, eradicated and clouded by the tortures of war. He bears a performance I never thought he had in him with such raw intensity, it is truly spell bounding. This film will make a name for him in drama, and resurrect him from his doom as a teen superhero icon.


The intense performance of Maguire is complimented by the other actors involved. A special ovation must be given to Taylor Geare and Bailee Madison, who played "Cahills" young daughters. It is often acceptable and understandable when a child's performance in a film is sub par, but these two talented little girls broke my heart with their bewildering presentations. The list of great performances goes on and on, both Gyllenhaal and Portman delivered astonishing portrayals of suffering and anguish at the near loss of a brother/husband, who was withering away both physically and mentally. All these great performances add up to create a film that is both emotionally/ psychologically phenomenal and complex.


All in all, really powerful dramas like this are the kind you see once, and only once. Not because you did not like it, but because it achieves its purpose at being emotionally draining and psychologically disturbing. It's a good story, that was made great by marvelous acting. Kudos to all the actors involved, this was an intense, heartbreaking, and heavy film. Bravo.


My Rating: SPICY