review of brothers

This American remake of Susanne Bier's 2004 Danish film by Jim Sheridan is quite a disappointment that it is heartbreaking, but it failed to elicit a thorough sympathy from the audience. 'Brothers' itself is a well-meaning and touching story, however unfortunately it hasn't 't been pulled itself together properly. The biggest problem is perhaps the pace of the film, sometimes the scenes changed too fast for the audience to catch up the emotions. It almost feels like many movies have been compressed into one. Everytime true emotion starts to emerge, the scene changes. In addition, there are still plenty of scenes that are unnecessary and drag the movie down.
Sam Cahill (Toby Maguire), an US marine, brother to Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), who is fresh out of jail, loves his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and two daughters, and is patriotic about his next duty to Afghanistan. After his helicopter crashed, Sam is thought to be killed in the accident and the whole family mourn his loss. Sam's death becomes an important milestone for Tommy, who starts straight up, help putting Sam's family back to order and turns into the “good son” in the eyes of their farther, a damaged Vietnam vet. Grace, being left to grieve photogenically, borrows a shoulder from Tommy, and they start to develop a relationship. After a 'different' Sam returning home, the family begins to be torn apart.
After Sam went to Afghanistan, there are a series of switching scenes between the battle field and the family back in America, it is an enhanced contrast. But at the same time, it interrupts the epitasis. There are more and more movies on screens these day which inspired by the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. 'Brothers' has its apolitical perspective and focused on the effects of the war on American families. If Sheridan can maintain the perspective of Grace throughout the entire movie, it might buy more tears from the audience. The movie leaves a vague feeling like it is not sure what is it trying to tell the audience.
The high light of this film is the performance of the two child actresses, Bailee Madison and Mare Winningham, playing Sam's daughters. The scenes with the two girls are subtle and delicate. Toby Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal thankfully do look like brother in the movie. The natural softness of Jake Gyllenhaal is revealed especially in the scenes with the children. Toby Maguire seems strained by the pace set by Sheridan, whereas Natalie Portman is just kindly of being there.

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