Thumbs a bit down on this one.
Sorry to say, this film does not meet one of my basic standards for any story: If you are going to present real, likable characters with tough dilemmas--which this film does--you need to RESOLVE, or strive to resolve, the plotlines.
Take two brothers in the brilliant forms of Jake Gylenhal (ok, spelling is iffy) and Tobey McGuire. One is a military man, the other a bum. But both quickly win our hearts. Now add the ever-charming Natalie Portman (without her Star Wars garb) as the military man's wife awaiting word from the front. You've got the makings of real drama.
Will one brother return from war? If so, in what condition? Will the other brother woo the wife during his sib's absence? Will the wife stay true to the memory of her soldier husband who may, or may not, still be alive?
Yes, enticing stuff. Worthy of full development.
Alas, the film ends where it should begin! Once we learn that Tobey (his character) has survived the war, and once we witness his demise back home, we need to find out more about him. What kind of relationship does he really have with his brother...with his wife...with his kids? Once he admits to the terrible events that unfolded in Afghanistan, how will he put his life back together?
I felt like I walked into a Sees Candies shop, watched the clerk open a box of my favorites (Bordeaux), only to learn that the shop was closing and the chocolates would go untasted. Bummer!
Enlighten me please, Valerie. Is there some redeeming value in this film that I'm missing?
Oh, brother! (pun intended)
Well, this is why we are Siskel and Ebert.
ReplyDeleteBut first, a side note. I worked my way through 4 years of college working at See's Candies in Los Arcos Mall. Great gig. I am still the envy of my relatives at holidays when I can name in detail each mysteriously-coded cream.
I avoided seeing Brothers because I thought it would be upsetting. Well, it was, but I got a lot out of it. I agree that it feels like a Prequel, if you will. And frankly, I appreciate a complex story that doesn't have a nice, neatly packaged (and often Hollywood) conclusion. But i think it had more resolution than we know. Wife says she'll leave if he can't tell her what happened. He finally is able to. MAJOR breakthrough in his recovery. Door opened. He reconciles with bro. (and I liked that fact that bro and wife hadn't been screwing, as trailer led us to believe). Mom handles children well in reassuring them this will take time. Recovery takes time. Period. An intelligent ending.
I found title misleading. This wasn't about (merely) brothers; this is a WAR story. And a different take on war's tolls. My favorite characters were his father and his older daughter. Father very very complex (still waters) with his own demons, and that scene arguing over car keys was the key to brothers dynamic. He says how Sam always did what he was told. That's the groundwork for one who gravitated to the military (AND why he eventually killed soldier). Transfer to daughters. The older one (scene-stealer) broke my heart. She is Jake's character and the younger, "cuter" "pleaser" one is Sam. She too feels like the outsider, the trouble-maker who just wants Dad's love the same.
I found dialogue to be dead-on authentic. The movie moved me and reminded me that every soldier is a damaged one. I loved last line about "war ends only for the dead."
For the record, correcting my misplaced phrasing "She too feels like the outsider..." I was still referring to older daughter.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to you, Valerie, to cast some intelligent light on the film I found so murky. You are spot-on in your comments.
ReplyDeleteFirst, your work at Sees is enough to make us chocoholics very jealous. How did you manage to be there four years and not eat everything in sight?
Hats off to you for noting that not every film neats a neat little bow-tie to end it. Loose edges can be enticing.
Yes, this is a war story most of all. Post-Vietnam, we put Daryl in the care of a wonderful woman whose husband, a vet, stared at walls for hours on end. We need more films to remind us of the mental damage sustained in battle.
The father is indeed a fascinating character. His pro-military, pro-booze, pro-macho views are pronounced...and lead to one son's rising to the challenge and other's renouncing it. Hero and felon...great stuff. Sons who come from distant, tough fathers have special struggles and issues to resolve.
Maybe I liked the characters too much and therefore wanted more out of them. Natalie Portman was the driving force of the film: her acting was Oscar-worthy. The brothers, loving yet complex, made we wish for
details.
Bottom line: You're right that this film is a gem. The dialogue was dead-on, as you noted. Still, I argue, the flick could have given us even more.
OK, then, thumbs somewhat up!
ReplyDeleteSees told us we could eat as much and whatever as we wanted, HOWEVER, their uniforms were slim cut in waist and made of nylon (absolutely no give), so any pound or two put on just about necessitated a request for a larger size. We were controlled by our own vanity. Clever strategy. but I would rotate favorites, a different one every week or two. All-time favorites: mint truffle and California brittle.
ReplyDeleteClever of Sees. If I worked there, inventory would always run low on Bordeaux, Milk Chocolate raisins, and every cream-centered delight.
ReplyDeleteAnother word on Natalie Portman: She was already fantastic as the kid in The Professional....what chemistry she had with Jean Reno. I'd like to see her in some highly dramatic, woman-centered film where she's the focus. Could be Oscar material here.
ReplyDelete