“SIBLINGS AT WAR”
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Sam Shepard, and Mare Winningham
Directed by: Jim Sheridan
MPPA Rating: R for language and some disturbing violent content.
Genre: Drama, War
Release Date: December 2009
By John Delia
The disturbing storyline of Brothers makes for an interesting and taught drama. The film takes the audience on an emotional rollercoaster that had me captured from the very beginning. Although the ending never comes, the film still entertains.
Captain Sam Cahill (Maguire) gets a call for his fourth call to duty and honorably
accepts the request in spite of wife Grace’s (Portman) plead to turn it down. Within a short period of months, a Marine Chaplin comes knocking at Grace’s door to inform her that her husband has been killed in action.  Distraught with the news and subsequent funeral, Grace goes into a period of morning resulting in a psychological down turn.
In the meantime Sam’s brother Tommy Cahill (Gyllenhaal) sees what’s happing and the effect it’s having on his two nieces. Stepping up he gets more acquainted with the two girls in an attempt to help reverse the despair, works on his brothers run down house and tries to comfort Grace. Tommy’s charm and understanding works fast and things start to get better for the family. After a few months, Grace gets another call from the Marines, this time telling her that Sam is alive. What comes home to Grace however is an man with a deep seeded secret that will cut into the framework of the family he loves.
This has to be the best role that Maguire has ever played. Here Maguire shows his
fine ability to create the psychological torn Captain who is determined to self-destruct. In support Portman and Gyllenhaal do a good job of allowing Maguire to play off their innocent characters. Gyllenhaal’s performance is his best since Brokeback Mountain and Portman’s since Cold Mountain.
Direction by Sheridan although very good, looses strength towards the end of the film. Whether he ran out of film or computer disc space, the story ends abruptly leaving me wanting more. With several loose ends left hanging, it leaves too much for the audience to resolve.
Brothers is rated R for language and some disturbing violent content that takes place in Afghanistan, but is important to the plot.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â A good film that could have been better. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)