Brothers (2009)

Posted on: December 5, 2009

Posted in: Drama, Thriller, War

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3 Responses to “Brothers (2009)”

1. agbwon2 Says:
   December 5th, 2009

   As a Captain in the United States who has served in both Afghanistanand Iraq I found this movie to be sickening and unrealistic to beremade in U.S. Marine uniforms. No other foreign Army or militaryservice can rival our U.S. Marines. Making this film is all topretentious of the director and sending the WRONG message to theviewers. I was so insulted by the scene in which Toby Maguire beat afellow Marine to death with a lead pipe while at gun point. This was ator around four months after they were captured and sold to a Talibanlike terrorist cell. My eyes did not believe what they saw and I got upand walked right out of the Theatre.

   Immediately upon captivity I found his disdain and treatment of hisfellow POW to be unprofessional and inhumane. His psychologicalapproach and separation from family and friends is appropriate andremaining a leader while captured is a must but his condescendingnature in the use of the word "Private" and no sort of mental orspiritual guidance made him look like a horrible leader and humanbeing. You could tell thought he was superior than his fellow Marinewho was in the same exact hell he was in. His behavior was altruisticand insidious.

   Natalie Portman was her usual amazing self; she is an excellent actressand played the grieving spouse role with superb accuracy. Although mostex cons are not as good looking and charming as Jake Gyellenhal, Ifound his attempt at redemption through the first 45 minutes as sincereand heartfelt. This phemomenom of a brother, a best friend or anotherSoldier filling the role of the fallen soldier is a common occurrence.However, is it the right thing to do? The movie industry is soknowledgeable on everything and these Hollywood types live in a dreamworld.

   If Hollywood did a real movie about Soldiers, Infidelity and thehorrors of combat it would be all to real and harrowing. Making it lessmarketable simply because of the frequency behind it and the damage ithas caused to so many veterans.

   Toby Maguire as an artist or actor; better yet American should havereally considered whether or not this role was a wise decision. Whatwas his motive for this role? I hope he is grateful to the UnitedStates Marine Corps and every other Veteran who has served in order forhim to have the ability and the freedom to live in a country like ours.It is the Land of the free and the home of the brave. Our Bill ofRights has been preserved by those who know of true sacrifice. Whatsacrifice will he make?

2. windsong353 Says:
   December 6th, 2009

   Wonderful film, fine directing, cinematography and acting. Slow pace asthe story unfolds and an ending worth extended discussion. Beware:Several harrowing, frightening, disturbing, intense prisoner of warscenes which are inappropriate for children, teenagers under 17, andundoubtedly some adults.

   Tobey Keith is absolutely superb, worthy of Oscarnomination…sensitive, realistic, frightening, heartfelt. Thesupporting cast is also terrific.

   Says things about war, soldiers, capture, release and return to homelife that present challenges for all of us in the US….the military,the government, relatives and friends of returning veterans, healthcare workers, and the general – and hopefully informed – public. Themovie stays with you long after leaving the theater…maybe forever.

3. casual_encounters Says:
   December 6th, 2009

   While I have read this was a story written in Europe for a Danish filmreleased in 2004, this is just the Love Triangle Ben Affleck and JoshHartnet had with Kate Beckinsale in the 2001 Hollywood film “PearlHarbor” released 3 years before the Danish script was even written?Sure in ‘Pearl’ it wasn’t 2 biological brothers but the lifelong bestfriends from childhood who were raised as brothers, and one wasn’tgetting out of prison while the other was in the military but one wasserving in England while the other was left to sit on a beach inHawaii’s Naval Yard.

   How typical of Hollywood. Not only did it try to hijack a Danish filmalmost scene for scene, but it forgot that one of their own 2001 Oscarwinners (Sound Editing – but still an Oscar)was in all likelihood whatthe Danish stole their 2004 script from. It reminds me of the Movie ofCoco Chanel’s life story that was done in France and quickly hijackedby America and released as a Made For TV Movie starring Shirley MacLeanjust weeks before the French film made its way to American theaters.

   Shame on Hollywood for stealing so many existing films and getting awaywith it, although both “Deep Impact” and “Armageddon” were about theexact same thing and came out the exact same year; as were PierceBrosnan’s “Dantes Peak” and Tommy Lee Jones’ “Volcano” and nobodyseemed to even notice.

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