User reviews

Two brothers, one returning from prison, one heading as a Marine to Afghanistan.

This film is apparently a remake of a Danish film that had the same story line.

But it didn't have Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal! Maguire reaches into the darkest corners of his soul to flesh out the good brother, the Marine, who returns from Afghanistan with a staggering burden of guilt.

Gyllenhaal is amazing, transforming an angry, unsure ex-con into a believable figure of redemption, slowly growing before our eyes as the story unfolds.

Natalie Portman is excellent and look for Carey Mulligan's four minutes of screen time.

This is not an anti-war film except in the sense that any film that shows war either glorifies it unrealistically or jars us into questioning, if it is realistic. The scenes in Afghanistan seem authentic. The tortures are not so so graphic as some of the other reviews imply. They will cause you to wince, but its good film making, not microscopic detail.

I want to search out Susanne Bier's 2005 film "Broedre"--it can't lessen the impact of this one, however.

Brothers is a remake of a Danish film of the same name and the original film is a very roughly made, improvised work, so the gloss of Hollywood could have hurt it.

However, Brothers is a remake that works totally and for a number of reasons. The writers have pedigree, with David Benioff (of the excellent 25th Hour) joining the original writers (and director) of the Danish movie. The themes are relevant and timely, with the war in Afghanistan and its affect on the west being reflected in this family story. And the setting is well observed, demonstrating that it's ordinary families and communities that are so often hit hardest by war.

Jim Sheridan is a good choice of director. He makes dramatic, character driven movies about people and families in crisis. What he does best here is keep the action restrained because these very dramatic stories, based around key scenes of high drama, can easily get overwrought - people crying, falling into desperation and facing life and death decisions - it can all get a bit much! Sheridan focuses on how this action affects the people and their relationships, not simply on providing intense, overacted scenes of no consequence.

The actors are wonderful, keeping that important restraint but pushing emotions where necessary - a fine balance to achieve.

This is strong drama for adults, such a rare thing from Hollywood these days.

I got this movie recommend via reels.

And it was hell of an experience watching this.

JAKE GYLLENHAAL, NATALIE PORTMAN,TOBEY MAGUIRE,SAM SHEPHERD shiwed their brilliant acting. Many scenes felt real.

And as it is said WAR CHANGES A MAN is greatly described.

Relationships amongst family and brotherhood is shown greatly.

How misunderstandings can lead to disputes, breakdowns (mental and emotional) are vividly depicted.

The life of one working in army ,serving their country and the difficulties they face are greatly portrayed.

The acting is top notch. Even the child actors did great.

And a friendly reminder: KIDS CAN BE UNBEARABLE SOMETIMES

Overall Awesome movie (and its not about sex) its about emotions, loyalty,love, friendship towards each other.

Although he has various mistakes, the basic message is what a healthy and happy person can become due to stupid wars. And you can see what kind of psychology the remaining family members, especially children go through.

I'm a huge fan of the three main actors so I knew I'd give this film a 7/10 by default. Setting biases aside this was a tremendous film. Bringing biases back in, Peter Parker.... I mean Tobey Maguire, gave us his best performance as an actor and really should've gotten an oscar for the kitchen scene alone. He put the work in losing a lot of weight and studying PTSD. I'm fortunate enough to have never dealt with this disorder but every review I read has glowing remarks on how he portrayed it. He will forever be my Spider-Man, and after this movie he has become one of my favorite actors along with Jake Gyllenhaal who was also amazing in this like every other movie he's in. The chemistry between Jake and Natalie was thick like quicksand propelling the plot and spiral of Tobey's character into violent rage. I was moved to tears by the end of this movie. The kitchen scene as mentioned followed by the climax was edge of your seat anxiety and emotional distress. My only complaint which stopped me from giving it a full 10/10 was the ending. It felt a little Stephen King-ish with how abruptly it wrapped up. Much like this review.

I really liked this one. From the score to the main three leads acting (especially tobeys I mean the end bro Wow). The kids did a good job to with their roles. The movie's slow paced but the dialouge carries it. Natalie Portman coveyed her character so well you can just see the geniune expression on her face she was just amazing. This movie really is really just about dealing with anxiety, family, war trauma and I just loved this one overall.

Toby Maguire puts on an epic performance, Natalie Portman is her always awesome self, and Jake Gyllenhaal brings it as well. Loved it, definitely brings the feels.

"Brothers" (2009), directed by Jim Sheridan, is a gripping and emotionally charged film that delves deep into the complexities of family, the consequences of war, and the human psyche. Starring Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman, the movie portrays the lives of two brothers, Sam and Tommy Cahill, whose fates are drastically altered by war and the impact it has on their family dynamics.

The narrative follows the Cahill family as they navigate the absence of Sam (Tobey Maguire), a Marine who is captured and presumed dead in Afghanistan, leaving his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and their two daughters in a state of emotional turmoil. In Sam's absence, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), the younger brother and a troubled ex-convict, steps in to provide support and care for his brother's family.

The film masterfully explores the psychological aftermath of war on Sam, who returns home after enduring severe trauma and captivity. Sam's struggles with PTSD and the haunting memories of his experiences overseas serve as a focal point, brilliantly portrayed by Tobey Maguire, whose performance is both haunting and evocative.

Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Tommy is equally compelling, capturing the inner turmoil of a man striving for redemption and torn between his own troubled past and a newfound sense of responsibility toward his brother's family. Meanwhile, Natalie Portman delivers a poignant performance as Grace, caught between her loyalty to her missing husband and the growing bond with his brother.

The film powerfully explores the complexities of guilt, trauma, and the impact of war on individuals and their relationships. It delves into the themes of family bonds, personal redemption, and the psychological toll of combat, showcasing the intricacies of human emotion in the face of adversity.

The narrative takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster, offering moments of raw vulnerability and intense drama. The impeccable performances, combined with Jim Sheridan's sensitive direction, make "Brothers" a profound and thought-provoking exploration of the human condition.

The film's strength lies in its ability to showcase the resilience of the human spirit, illustrating how individuals grapple with their past, confront their demons, and strive for redemption in the midst of overwhelming circumstances. "Brothers" stands as a testament to the enduring power of familial love and the complexities of human relationships in the face of adversity.

Great acting Great colour pallet Good PACING (may feel slow to some ) BGM is super good Ending should have been extended (it was good but it could be better )

Based on Susanne Bier's Danish movie 'Brødre' from 5 years earlier, 'Brothers' continues an increasing trend for the USA to take inspiration from contemporary Scandinavian cinema e.g. 'Speak No Evil' and 'Gæsterne'. Both titles are purportedly based on Homer's epic poem 'the Odyssey' but as I'm not familiar with that Greek classic, I'll leave that for you to decide. As a study in the PTSD suffered by a combat survivor in Afghanistan and it's collateral damage on their family and loved ones, it's riveting from beginning to end. Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) was a well adjusted, intelligent loving family man before he went to fight the Taliban as a Marine Captain but on his return is a broken soldier, hanging desperately onto a retreating reality and his own diminishing sanity as best he can in the wake of inhumane and cruel treatment at the hands of his Taliban captors. His paranoia that his wife (Natalie Portman) has slept with his brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) in his absence is palpable but merely symptomatic of a man who wishes to lash out and destroy anything in his immediate grasp that might prevent him from confronting his own guilt and culpability for the past. The performances from Gyllenhaal, Portman and Maguire are all magnificent while the supporting cast of the two daughters and their Grandpa (Sam Shepard) are judiciously understated and finely nuanced throughout. Brothers is the type of low key psychodrama that is not normally my bag y'all, but I can't recommend it highly enough. I watched it because I watch anything that features Jake Gyllenhaal.

Brothers is a very well-crafted and supremely acted movie starring a powerhouse cast comprising Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman. Brothers is one of those movies that is thoroughly engaging from first shot to last and is able to exude this constant enchanting aura that gives weighted emotion to every one of its scenes. Its story isn't exactly original, a point that I will return to in a few moments, but is memorable due to the careful and precise direction, the pleasantly intense background score that captures the depth of every scene, and most of all, the acting by the entire cast, especially Tobey Maguire. Tobey Maguire plays his role with absolute and terrifying dedication, for his performance was very intense and heartfelt. He perfectly depicts the ways in which war can and does change the lives of the soldiers it harbours and the extent to which such strains can lead family life astray. And exactly where Tobey was very expressive and full blown, the always reliable Jake Gyllenhaal gives a more subtle performance with equal fervour and impact. Natalie Portman holds her own fort and is able to evict true emotion and feeling in the viewer. The two little girls in the film are surprisingly very good, so much so that they nearly manage to steal some scenes from their elder, more qualified counterparts.

Having spoken about the acting, it's time to talk about Jim Sheridan's direction. Sheridan's direction is reserved and confident, and expertly brings to life the events on screen. Each scene is well thought out and shown with the maximum attention to detail. A dinner scene in the third half of the movie is astounding in it's craft, with every little manoeuvre and expression captivatingly unveiled, with the whole act being thoroughly dramatic and power-packed. This really is potent direction that is worthy of much praise.

Some people deride the movie citing it as too melodramatic, and still others consider it generic Hollywood fare about how war affects people's lives. I believe this is hypocritical in nature, because this is rather unwarranted. Firstly, about this supposedly being melodramatic, I would like to point out that the movie was very reserved in its depiction of pain and suffering in most parts, while only reaching it's dramatic crescendo in the final ten minutes, which was very much necessary, especially considering how well acted the scenes in question were, and hence dismissing the entire movie as melodrama is unfair. And about it being a very generic tale about war, makes me wonder what this movie could have done differently to have not been 'generic'. Were it to focus more on the War itself, it would have been termed as pointless action with no dramatic heft, and since it does focus on the psychological effects of war, it is considered generic with striking comparisons with the 1978 classic 'The deer hunter'. This nature of belittling a movie released years after another, dealing with a 'similar' concept and theme, which in fact, is very much grounded in its own reality and carves its own character arcs, is once again unfair.

Finally, I would like to say that Brothers is very strong, heartfelt entertainment that has been overlooked for some of the reasons stated and rebuttled above. The greatest strength of this movie is the acting it features and is truly an underrated gem.

Backtracking my IMDb profile is likely to lead you to reviews that are well structured and written with the critical analysis of a few days. This review however is something that I am typing nearly shivering , moments after watching this progressive direction and impeccable performance. Now this is an unconventional review , but bear with me as I will clearly explain why this is an under-rated gem you must watch right away if you didn't.

First thing of the bat let me start by saying that this movie is not something that will be known for it's story. Being a re-make it has it's own flaws , in fact the almost perfect 10 score is nowhere placed for it's story as it is probably a generic war hero story of a scarred marine we have watched a million times. In fact this movie is more of Tom Hank's Cast away that shows more of Tom Hanks after coming back home.

You might have noticed that my review started with me stating that I was moved by Impeccable performance and not performances. The cast is just superb , all the way from Jake to the small girls who portrayed the traumatised and puzzled kids. But one man who rose from the potentially overshadowing cast is Toby Maguire. Let me assure you , that this is probably his best performance of his career. Coming hot out of a comic book character , Toby has proved himself to be a character that can physically and mentally morph himself to produce magic on screen. The entire movie is his transformation , it is him breaking down , it is him trying to fix a part of himself that can never be undone. The last 30 minutes of this movie is a testament to my belief in Toby. And the last 10 minutes of the movie is probably where he will force you to nearly break down. I almost did , and that hasn't happened in a very long time.

But what is performance without a boss behind the camera. Jim Sheridan might be the one known for his work in other titles like " In America " and " The Boxer " , but he has done a brilliant job in making this movie not just a drama but an atmospheric thriller. Without spoiling much , there is a scene towards the end that has an intense buildup , for 5 minutes that leads to a brilliant pay off. The camera has quick , nimble switches , some characters focused , some made to hide themselves , to symbolize hidden emotions. Every minute detail of this movie , all the way from substantial lighting to tonal shifts , Jim has done a beautiful job at creating a fractured and wounded universe , which in conjunction with the acting resonates to give a message , strong and sharp.

Looking at the cast of the movie it's hard to believe how Nightcrawler's Jake , Black Swan's Portman , and the right stuff's Sam had nearly little but equally important roles to play where the sleeper hero Toby just manages to steal the show and knock it off the park.

You might just think " I am high of my popcorn " but this my genuine expression. There hasn't been a movie this intriguing in a very long time that has pursued me to open my laptop right away and write this extra ling review.

It's been 6 years since this movie has been out and this is my second viewing. So let this review be a reminder that the movie stood good then , now and will grow on you to be much better, as time passes by.

the acting was amazing even the children who knew Tobey Maguire was so good should be turned into a play because of its powerful message Jake was better than I ever expected. The scenes of the war were well done and authentic looking. The parents were not developed enough as characters. The girl who played the older child was amazing. Natalie Portman was very convincing as the devastated wife and mother but too pretty even though her appearance is referred to in the movie. This movie brings out the importance of returning veterans having more follow-up care for trauma. It becomes evident that returning GIs have substantial problems coming back and entering society. Also, alcoholism is spoken about but not addressed in depth.

We both thought this was a reasonably well done movie about the war effort 'over there'. Toby Maguire was an intense officer and the quintessential good son. He made his daddy proud. Then there was the other son Jake Gyllenhall.........a bad boy recently out of prison. He made his daddy angry. Sam Shepard portrayed a believable old Jarhead kind of dad. The dynamics in the family were interesting to follow (though predictable). Anybody who grew up in a military family will recognize some of these behaviors; they resonate with army/navy brats. To me the mark of a good movie goes beyond simple entertainment. Are the the themes portrayed thought provoking after you leave the theater? Comedies and "fluff" movies are excused from making you think!

You know that, in afghanistan they speak persian language and it's wrong because iranian people are not terrorist and they have a different language!

Good movie to some extent, the film story is slighty repeatable. Anyway, I enjoyed the film.

I loved watching this movie, It truly does outline the darkness that being a soldier can create and how it can take its toll on you and those around you. It not only shows the trauma but it shows the differences between being at war and being at home, two brothers who could not be more different, such an amazing story i really enjoyed this movie alot more than I should have.

The cast choice was super, incredible acting from start to finish, dont hesitate your choice watching this as it really is remarkable!

Full if emotions an amazing drama movie, acting was so real and touchable you feel yourself living the story with the characters , well done

'Brothers', is a very good movie about an American officer who is captured and held by terrorists in Afghanistan, and about his family back in the USA - in particular, the officer's wife and his ne'er-do- well, ex-convict brother. The officer eventually returns home but is assailed by personal 'demons'. The last part of the movie reaches startling heights of dramatic horror. I won't say any more, as I don't wish to spoil it for those who have yet to see it.

Brothers didn't win any major awards, but I can assure you that the acting by all concerned is absolutely superb and the direction and overall production is peerless. It is a film that will shock you to your foundations and make you realise that 'we mere mortals' are not only fallible but also capable of change – sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worst. It is a must see.