The movie “Brothers” is directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jim Sheridan, whose credits include the Oscar winning “In The Name Of The Father,” “My Left Foot” and “In America.” The film stars Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and “Spiderman” Tobey Maguire, along with Natalie Portman.
The “Brothers” screenplay was written by David Benioff, who wrote the critically acclaimed (and fantastic) 2008 novel “City Of Thieves” and Spike Lee movie “The 25th Hour.”
When a decorated Marine goes missing overseas, his black-sheep younger brother cares for his wife and children at home—with consequences that will shake the foundation of the entire family. The movie “Brothers” tells the powerful story of two siblings, thirtysomething Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) and younger brother Tommy Cahill (Jake Gyllenhaal), who are polar opposites. A Marine about to embark on his fourth tour of duty, Sam is a steadfast family man married to his high school sweetheart, the aptly named Grace (Natalie Portman), with whom he has two young daughters (Bailee Madison, Taylor Grace Geare). Tommy, his charismatic younger brother, is a drifter just out of jail who’s always gotten by on wit and charm. He slides easily into his role as family provocateur on his first night out of prison, at Sam’s farewell dinner with their parents, Elsie (Mare Winningham) and Hank Cahill (Sam Shepard), a retired Marine.
The (‘allegedly’) gay, in real life, Jake Gyllenhaal seems to be content being typecast as the tough guy in war movies. Remember him in the movie box office flop “Jarhead?” When will Hollywood realize that Gulf War and Iraq War movies make nothing at the worldwide movie box office – and stop making them? (It’s rumored very strongly in Hollywood, too, even though he is married to Universal Pictures’ president Ron Meyer’s daughter, that Tobey Maguire is a homosexual).
Also, the above poster makes the film seem like a sequel to “Brokeback Mountain.” Maybe it should be entitled “Brokeback Brothers?” (Maybe Jake’s character had a baby boy and Jake plays the kid thirty years later?) While the 2010 Oscars will be showcasing 10 films in the Best Picture race, we wouldn’t doubt that the movie receives a nod – for the simple fact that it’s directed by Jim Sheridan – and written by a genius storyteller.
