It takes two-thirds of the film for any scene of real emotional truth or power to emerge - and by then we're lost.
Brothers
There are two sides to every family.
2009 · 1h 45m · R
Drama, Thriller, War
Directed by
Jim Sheridan
Overview
When his helicopter goes down during his fourth tour of duty in Afghanistan, Marine Sam Cahill is presumed dead. Back home, brother Tommy steps in to look over Sam’s wife, Grace, and two children. Sam’s surprise homecoming triggers domestic mayhem.
Director and cast
- Jim Sheridan Director
- Tobey Maguire as Sam Cahill
- Jake Gyllenhaal as Tommy Cahill
- Natalie Portman as Grace Cahill
- Sam Shepard as Hank Cahill
- Mare Winningham as Elsie Cahill
- Bailee Madison as Isabelle Cahill
- Taylor Geare as Maggie Cahill
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Maj. Cavazos
- Patrick John Flueger as Private Joe Willis
- Carey Mulligan Cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
A soap opera ensues with more cliches than one movie can survive.
Brothers, the new home-from-the-war film, written by David Benioff and directed by Jim Sheridan, has been made with obvious devotion and sincerity, and I wish I could take it seriously.
Sheridan seems as conflicted as the Cahills about their virtues and failings.
After watching this movie, I had what you might call Portman Traumautic Stress Disorder, a condition that leaves you twitchy, irritable, and in need of a well-acted light comedy.
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