Brothers (2009/I)

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers (WGA):

David Benioff (screenplay)
Susanne Bier (motion picture "Brødre") ...

Release Date:

4 DECEMBER 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller | War

Tagline:

There are two sides to every family

Plot:

A young man comforts his older brother's wife and children after he goes missing in Afghanistan. |

Plot Keywords:

Afghanistan | Girl | Husband Wife Relationship | Tears | Crying

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Tommy Cahill
Natalie Portman	...	Grace Cahill
Tobey Maguire	...	Capt. Sam Cahill
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Major Cavazos
Bailee Madison	...	Isabelle Cahill
Sam Shepard	...	Hank Cahill
Mare Winningham	...	Elsie Cahill
Taylor Geare	...	Maggie Cahill
Patrick Flueger	...	Private Joe Willis
Jenny Wade	...	Tina
Carey Mulligan	...	Cassie Willis
Omid Abtahi	...	Yusuf
Navid Negahban	...	Murad
Ethan Suplee	...	Sweeney
Arron Shiver	...	A.J.

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content.

Runtime:

105 min | USA:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Michael De Luca Productions

Trivia:

Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal play the brothers in this film. Maguire nearly had to decline the lead role in Spider-Man 2 (2004) due to back injuries, and Gyllenhaal was the top choice to replace him.

Goofs:

Factual errors: While in Afghanistan, one of the captors speaks in Farsi while the other answers him in Arabic. Farsi isn't spoken in Afghanistan, and people that speak Farsi can't understand people that speak Arabic.

Quotes:

Sam Cahill: I have to go. He's my brother.
Grace Cahill: He doesn't deserve you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Funny People (2009)

Soundtrack:

White As Snow

Did anyone know that Tobey could act?

What drew me to this movie was the cast of Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman, two phenomenal actors in their own regards. The only expectation that I had going into see this film was that I would be unimpressed by Tobey Maguire. Having seen him in several films (including Spider-Man), I must say that I wasn't prepared for the incredible performance he provided.

This movie was very simplistic. Nothing flashy, no real special effects, small amounts of simple guitar music as a soundtrack. But it conveyed a whole roller coaster of emotions from the beginning. The growth of Jake Gyllenhaal's character, the anguish displayed by Natalie Portman, the palpable pain and suffering by Tobey Maguire, and the fear and anger displayed by the eight-year-old Bailee Madison all combine for a very gripping tale.

Many regard this movie as anti-war. I simply do not see it as such. Soldiers are praised for their heroism on the battlefield (which they completely deserve), but all too often the wounds they suffer physically and mentally are disregarded. This movie illustrates the very real problem of the mental health of our service men and women, and the problems it causes in family dynamics.