Good concept, poorly executed.

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Brothers is apparently a tough war drama starring Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal. Much of this story is familiar. There is the father who loves one son, but is ashamed of the other. Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) blames his father for his brother's supposed death, filling Sam's (Tobey Maguire) head with a lot of military and patriotic nonsense. Tommy represents the Hollywood view of the war in this movie, while Sam and Hank represent the Red States. This is not an intellectual conflict, but an emotional one, and it plays out in an extremely intense scene.From an acting standpoint, it is quite well. Gylleenhaal steals most of his scenes he's in as his character was more intriguing than Maguire's, though they both do well. As well as Natalie Portman as the wife of Maguire,The direction and production values are very good, but the story does seem to end a bit abruptly. Overall, Brothers may have been overlooked upon its release, it was better than one expected.

Well, here it is again...another one of those situations where the trailer is actually better than the film itself. After viewing that preview for "Brothers", I had high hopes that it would succeed where "Jarhead" failed in telling the next "Rambo" story (this time about the Iraq War instead of Vietnam). Unfortunately, the film was much too understated and sparse to do anything of the sort.The basic premise of the movie sees a young Marine (Tobey Maguire) supposedly die in a helicopter wreck while serving in Iraq. The wife (Natalie Portman) and two daughters he left behind mourn his death, and are comforted by the Marine's brother (Jake Gyllenhaal). When "Gyllenhaal" and "Portman" get to be a little more than friends, however, the sudden, unexpected return of "Maguire" creates a high amount of tension.Here's the problem: If the film had focused on that description (and the one teased to us in the trailer), I think it would have been a much more memorable film. The conceptual love triangle that could have played out would have had the potential to tread on new ground in terms of military pictures, creating a sense of high drama. Instead, though, the ultimate vision of the film focuses far too much on Maguire's mental anguishes and doesn't allow the relationship drama to blossom.SPOILER ALERT: While presumed dead, Maguire is tortured by his enemy, even forced to kill a fellow Marine in cold blood. Thus, when he comes back home, he is a sort of walking zombie of his former self. He isn't able to reconcile his actions and allow himself to slip back into the real world, and even the hint of a Gyllenhall-Portman relationship pushes him over the edge (before that angle has any time to dramatically build).Sadly, in a way, the acting is actually at a very high quality, with the "lead three" giving great performances and the auxiliary cast doing a tremendous job in rounding things out (the "Dad" and "oldest girl" characters are very interesting to watch). However, director Jim Sheridan didn't seem to be able to decide which film he wanted to make: the one about the effects of torture on a Marine's psyche, or the one about how he fits back in with his family after being presumed dead. Sheridan tries to "go epic" and do both, but ends up accomplishing neither.Thus, unless you can stand a movie in which many themes are thrown at you that are never really fleshed-out or fully realized in the end, I would recommend staying away from this one. Don't let the trailer fool you...it isn't as gripping as it lets on.

Marine Capt. Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is going to Afganistan on another tour leaving behind his wife Grace (Natalie Portman) and their two young daughters. He picks up his brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) getting out of prison after serving his time for armed robbery. The family gathers for a dinner before Sam leaves. Tommy fights with their military father Hank (Sam Shepard). The family is stunned when Sam is reported killed in a helicopter crash. In reality, he's been captured by the Taliban along with Private Joe Willis. At home, Tommy cleans up his act while getting closer to Grace. Captivity turns horrific and when Sam is rescued, he returns home psychologically damaged.This cast is stacked and they all bring it. Director Jim Sheridan is able to nurture some amazing work especially from Tobey Maguire. Portman, Gyllenhaal, Shepard, and even little Bailee Madison show their acting muscles. The story does feel a little melodramatic like a broad Greek tragedy. That's par for the course. This is big time acting.

Sorry, but I'm not buying Tobey McGuire as an ex high school football star or a current Marine leader. He just doesn't look like the type. Having said that, he did a great job of portraying a man in shock.Even more so, I'm not buying a 90 pound Israeli American girl who looks like a teenager, as a late 20's New Mexico mom and ex-cheerleader. Having said that, Natalie Portman did a terrific job of showing patience and sensitivity to the travails of the men in her life.Jake G. has such an expressive and sensitive face, that you just have to love him. I did buy him in his role. Not because he's lovable, but because he looked like a guy with a dark side and redeeming qualities.I am quite sensitive to Liberal Hollywood portrayals of the military. But I don't think this was really an anti-military or anti-war movie. The dad came back from Vietnam messed up, but he was still a proud Marine. The son in the Marines was depicted as an honorable winner.There is a scene around a birthday table that built tension gradually. It was the best scene in a film that had several other scenes with tension-builders.This is a downer picture. But if you're the type who appreciates good dialog and acting, and doesn't need a fancy setting or lots of action, then you should appreciate this one for what it is. Nice use of mood music as well.