Brothers (2009)

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

Director:

Jim Sheridan

Writers:

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

Stars:

Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tobey Maguire	...	Capt. Sam Cahill
Jake Gyllenhaal	...	Tommy Cahill
Natalie Portman	...	Grace Cahill
Sam Shepard	...	Hank Cahill
Mare Winningham	...	Elsie Cahill
Bailee Madison	...	Isabelle Cahill
Taylor Geare	...	Maggie Cahill
Patrick John Flueger	...	Private Joe Willis (as Patrick Flueger)
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Major Cavazos
Carey Mulligan	...	Cassie Willis
Omid Abtahi	...	Yusuf
Navid Negahban	...	Murad
Ethan Suplee	...	Sweeney
Arron Shiver	...	A.J.
Ray Prewitt	...	Owen

Storyline

Before leaving on his second tour in Afghanistan, Marine Captain Sam Cahill, a leader, an athlete, a good husband and father, welcomes his screw-up brother Tommy home from prison. He'd robbed a bank. In country, Sam's helicopter is shot down and all are presumed dead. Back home, while Sam wastes away as a prisoner in a remote encampment, Tommy tries to take care of the widow and her two children. While imprisoned, Sam experiences horrors unbearable, so when he's rescued and returns home, he's silent, detached, without affect, and he's convinced his wife and brother have slept together. Demons of war possess him; what will silence them?

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Plot Keywords:

afghanistan | presumed dead | marine | grief | prisoner | 

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Taglines:

There are two sides to every family

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 December 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hermanos

Filming Locations:

Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,527,848, 6 December 2009, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$28,501,651, 17 January 2010

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,318,349, 5 July 2012

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lionsgate, Relativity Media, Sighvatsson Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film cast includes one Oscar winner: Natalie Portman; and four Oscar nominees: Jake Gyllenhaal, Sam Shepard, Carey Mulligan and Mare Winningham.

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Goofs

When Grace reads the letter, the paper and the envelope are much bigger than they were when she originally received them after Sam's presumed death.

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Quotes

Sam Cahill: I dunno who said "only the dead have seen the end of war". I have seen the end of war. The question is, can I live again?

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Connections

Featured in Re-Made in the USA: How Brodre Became Brothers (2010)

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Soundtracks

Eternal Father Strong to Save
(1860)
United States Navy Hymn
Traditional
Music by John B. Dykes (uncredited)
Lyrics by William Whiting (uncredited)

User Reviews

Earnest but perhaps trying a little too hard

Just OK. Very well acted particularly by Gyllenhaal, Portman, and the two young 'uns, and a compelling tale of how war can mess up a family, but a little too melodramatic to hold much power for me.

There's also the misjudged Afghan side story, which is populated by cartoon characters. It might have worked better had we been kept completely in the dark as to the soldier's fate, to be put in the same position as the wife and brother. As it is we are simply sitting waiting for his inevitable (rather than hoped-for) return and we know any emotional investment during this buildup will be wasted. It feels almost tacked on - did they need to give Maguire more to do? He's the best I've ever seen him btw, but I didn't find him as convincing as the other two leads who had a more nuanced story to work with.