MOVIE REVIEW - Brothers

Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllanhaal and Natalie Portman star in the new drama, Brothers at the box office this weekend.

It's a big movie, with and equally big new star cast. I must confess, after seeing the trailers for this one, I had rather low expectations. I was wondering about the timing of putting a heavy, drama from the Middle East war ramifications move in theaters at holiday time. But being fair, I was surprised.

It's the story of two brothers, Sam and Tommy. Sam is a decorated marine, married and has two little girls. Tommy is a dead beat underachiever who can't get his life on track. Sam is deployed to the Middle East, and has the absolute worst trauma imaginable. He is reported to be dead, and his wife goes on with her life. With the assistance of Tommy, who is attempting to grow up and help Sam's widow recover.

Then, Sam is NOT dead. He returns to the states and is reunited with his family. But needless to say he is a changed man in every regard. That is the drama that is Brothers. And it is heavy to be sure.

Brothers is a very hard to watch movie at times. Scenes of extreme torture at times. And also deals with some heavy duty mental illness. This movie could make some squeamish. But if you can wade through, it ends up being a very well done movie, that very well could have gone off the road and become something it didn't need to be. It hold it's head up pretty well, and although it becomes a bit draggy in the second half as compared to the first half, it's not a movie killer.

All performances are strong, Story good. Directed wonderfully, and in the end, not the total downer it could have been.

Brothers. Well done.