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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Brothers (2009)

Director: Jim Sheridan
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman

Plot: A story of two brothers and a family affected by the war.

Sam (Tobey Maguire) has been a winner all his life. A present war hero - Sam was the perfect athlete in school, has the hottest wife and two beautiful daughters complete his family.
Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) is his younger childhood-gone-wrong brother. He is unemployed, robs banks and always taunted by his Military retired father.

Sam goes to Afghanistan for his second visit, is captured and tortured with a Private. Both are presumed dead.
Back home Sam's stunningly beautiful, once cheerleader, wife - Grace (Natalie Portman) is dejected and two young daughters need a father figure. In this dreaded hour Tommy realizes his responsibility and comes out as a pillar of support for the entire family.
Grace wasn't much fond of him earlier but now she really appreciates a changed Tommy. Both are lonely and do feel some attraction toward each other though there consciences forbade it and they are able to resist any physical urge.
Sam is finally rescued and his Private companion is dead. He is in a state of delusion and very disturbed by what happened to him and what he was made to do.
Sam comes back home which he can't fit in anymore. He is suspicious that his brother and wife are in a relationship. The whole world has changed for him and his entire family.

How the family prevails from this dire strait - if at all and what made a war hero into a psycho? For answers the movie is a must watch.
Brothers might not have a very unique plot but it isn't cliched either.
Highlight of the movie is brotherhood of Sam and Tommy and there clear understanding and support for each other.
It features very strong performances by the trio - Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and the remaining cast. And once again Natalie Portman has failed in doing a "bad movie" which is so often the case!

7.8/10

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