Customer Reviews

Four Brothers [HD DVD]

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(54)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

I remember catching the trailer for this and being intrigued by the cast and the plot. After leaving the theater, the movie still hasn't left me. The acting, top to bottom, was exceptional, especially the chemistry between 'the brothers'. The action scenes were incredible with some of the most awesome cars chases and shoot-out scenes I've seen. John Singletion is definitely an excellet and still-growing director who has outdone himself with 'Four Brothers'. Why are their comparisons between 'Boyz In Tha Hood' and 'Four brothers' ? Two totally different movies. BITH is a coming of age movie, FB is about bonds and sacrifice. Well worth a multiple look and a must have if you're into action and/or crime dramas whether you're a teenager or not.

Bobby Mercer (Mark Wahlberg) drives into his childhood Detroit neighborhood, returning home to bury his adopted mother, Evelyn (Fionnula Flanagan, "The Others"). At the funeral, he meets up with two of his three other brothers; Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin of Outkast fame), now a family and business man, and Jack (Garret Hedlund). Evelyn was the foster mother for hundreds of kids and adopted Bobby and his brothers when no one would have them. After the funeral, they return to her house and find their fourth sibling, Angel (Tyrese Gibson), sitting on the porch. Soon, they learn that Evelyn's death, during a convenience store robbery, may have been more than a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. An old childhood friend, Green (Terrence Howard, "Hustle and Flow", "Crash"), now a detective, warns them against taking matters into their own hands. But take matters they do, and they begin to investigate, leading them closer and closer to a local gangster, Victor Sweet (Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Dirty Pretty Things", "Melinda and Melinda").

When you read the synopsis of "Four Brothers", or hear about it, each of the elements seems to say "Huh? That won't work. That can't work." But combined, and married to good acting, good writing and good directing by John Singleton, the film is a surprisingly effective dramatic tale.

The key to the film's success is that it is R-rated. I don't necessarily need to see an R-rated film every time I go to the movies, but if the film is about four men trying to find the person who killed their mother, on the mean streets of Detroit, an R-rating will allow the filmmaker to be more realistic. In this age of PG-13 horror and action films, something gets lost. In a horror film, I expect to see some blood. In a PG-13 horror film, you aren't going to see a lot. In an R-rated action film, I expect to see some violence. "Brothers" is all the more realistic because Bobby and his siblings throw some punches, people get hit by bullets and they use some R-rated words. They grew up in the slums of Detroit. I wouldn't expect them to say "Gee, I'm sorry for that" or something equally as innocuous. And because the story centers on their quest to find a killer, some violence is to be expected. And delivered. Much like the recent R-rated "Wedding Crashers", filled with rating appropriate humor, I applaud this recent trend to deliver films with content appropriate ratings rather than trying to tailor the content for a kid-friendly (or a teenager friendly) rating. Filmmakers should stand by their vision and not allow it to be changed to meet an artificial rating.

Because of the R-rating, Singleton is able to allow the characters to be true to themselves. Because Bobby lives in a violent world, he doesn't have to think twice about using violence to get to his goal. Bobby is a really complex character and Wahlberg does a great job of conveying the conflicting emotions at work. Green introduces each of the Mercer boys to his partner, Fowler (Josh Charles), as they sit in their car watching each arrive for the funeral. After Green describes their various criminal records, Fowler is incredulous that Evelyn is regarded so highly in the community. "But, they are all the Dalai Lama compared to what they would've been without her influence." Bobby is clearly affected by his mother's memory and influence, especially staying in her home, but he desperately wants to find out the truth. As the oldest of the four boys, he also has to provide protection and leadership to his brothers.

Andre Benjamin is also surprisingly good. Often musicians don't make the transition to film well (Hello, Mariah Carey? Lance Bass? Justin Timberlake?), but Benjamin shows some real acting ability. He also shows his seriousness for the medium and doesn't sing during the film, or on the soundtrack. He is a family man with a wife and two daughters to think about, so he doesn't participate as quickly in his brothers' scheme. But when he becomes linked to the action, he realizes he has no choice and reluctantly participates. Angel and Jack are really Bobby's henchmen throughout, following him without objection to any corner of the neighborhood.

Terrence Howard does some good work as Green, but it is a supporting role and, compared to his other work in "Crash" and "Hustle and Flow", unremarkable.

As Evelyn, Fionnula Flanagan has the least amount of screen time, but she manages to instantly convey why this woman was so revered in the community. Before she is shot, she has a brief exchange with a local boy in the convenience store, quickly establishing her character. Later in the film, each of the boys imagines her talking to them. All of these appearances establish her as a tough, but kind woman who is only afraid when someone is pointing a gun at her face.

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays one of the most chilling villains in a long time. Victor Sweet is a vicious man and will take anything and kill anyone he wants. The final scenes involving him are particularly memorable, because the outcome is unexpected, yet believable.

Singleton is clearly trying to evoke the feel of gangster films from the 70s; Wahlberg even drives around in an old car from this period throughout most of the film. The cinematography is gritty and the soundtrack is filled with songs from this era. All of this adds to the feel of the film, making everything stand out.

But the film is most successful because it doesn't pull any punches. "Four Brothers" is a gritty, violent, believable look at the revenge four brothers take for their beloved mother's death.

John Singleton has a gift for depicting the gritty side of life and making it credible: there are reasons for heads-up defensive action in neighborhoods where perpetrators and victims live side by side in a world teetering on imbalance.

FOUR BROTHERS is a finely tuned, taut little film that demonstrates the influence of a caring adult on kids with little future can impact lives. Evelyn Mercer (a terrific Fionnula Flanagan) is a single woman who adopted four orphans as children and raised them tightly bonded brothers: two are white (ex-con Bobby - Mark Wahlberg - and gay musician Jack - Garrett Hedlund: two are African American - (gentle Angel - Tyrese Gibson - and stay-at-home businessman Jeremiah - André Benjamin). The four brothers reunite when their mother is killed during a store holdup. Knowing that the Detroit police are a corrupt organization they take matters into their own hands, seeking out their mother's killers. Along the way they discover aspects of each other that draw them eventually even closer as brothers.

The cast is excellent with fine cameo performances from Terrence Howard and Josh Charles as polar opposite policemen, from Flanagan (who though murdered in the first frames of the film reappears to 'spiritually' influence the brothers), Chiwetel Ejiofor as the bad guy, Taraji P. Henson as Jeremiah's wife and Sofía Vergara as Angel's girlfriend. The story is solid if a bit predictable, but the messages are many about racism, brotherhood, family importance, and awareness of police corruption. Singleton directs with breakneck speed yet allows us time to get to know everyone in the story. This is a dandy action film with a heart. Grady Harp, December 05

Never underestimate the bonds of family. That could easily have been the tagline for this terrific revenge/murder mystery. With "Four Brothers", director John Singleton (2000's "Shaft" remake) takes this mantra to the extreme, showing that no matter what, when the chips are down you can always count on your family to watch your back.

After their saintly foster mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is murdered in a convenience store, her adopted sons, two white and two black, come home to pay their respects. Three out of the four brothers, Jack (Garrett Hedlund), Angel (Tyrese Gibson), and Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin), are content to believe that what happened was just a case of wrong place/wrong time. However, oldest brother Bobby (Mark Wahlberg) believes that they should at least try to find who did this, and deliver some punishment. In their search for answers, the brothers discover that their mom was not just a random killing, but a planned execution that is tied into a vast conspiracy ranging from the Detroit police, to city council, to a local drug kingpin. Now, the brothers are in a fight to not only bring down those responsible, but also walk away with their lives intact.

The gritty, hard edged violence of "Four Brothers" gives the movie a modern urban western tone, that is nicely balanced by the brothers' bond to one and other. John Singleton was careful to show that though the oldest brother, Bobby, was hot-headed and wanted vengeance on the killers, words of wisdom from his other brothers prevailed. Causing him to stay his hand, until all responsible were discovered, and the conspiracy revealed. A well-written story that takes time to allow the audience connect with the brothers, and feel their deep pain, before engaging in the revenge arc of the story. This was key, so that the audience wouldn't view the brothers deeds as no better than those responsible for their mother's death. All of the actors in "Four Brothers" were outstanding, one character I wish they would have developed a little more was that of Detective Green (Terrence Howard), an uncorruptable Detroit police officer, who knows that the brothers are planning vengeance, but is torn between his duty as a cop and his duty as a friend of the family. The action scenes are fast, intense, and in some cases brutal, but never gratuitous, with only minimal amounts of blood and gore shown.

With its focus on strong family bonds, and a think before you shoot mentality, "Four Brothers" rises above your average revenge movie, and is a thoroughly entertaining and engaging film that most people will enjoy.

"Four Brothers" is rated R for violence, language, and sensuality.

Four Brothers, (actually stepbrothers) two white, two black, acted masterfully by Mark Wahlberg, Garrett Hedlund, Tyrese Gibson and Andre Benjamin is a great revenge movie, but within the intricacies of its plot and characters lie primal emotions that, while often lambasted by movie critics and 'independent film' aficianados is the stuff that makes opera, ballet, and other art forms that go for raw, unabashed, unapologetic emotional classics. The four brothers--bound by love--rather than blood, show us that emotional bonds can reach a cosmic level, overshadowing the mundane, anemic relationships of so-caled family films and romantic films that fill the large screen and the boob tube. In this regard, the characters are 'larger than life' as was Macbeth or Oedipus, and their fate and motivations are beyond the pale of the everyday,while the extremes of emotion complement the extremes of what is at stake, but isn't that why we go to most movies in the first place? This film portrays four warriors--each with a flaw, one is belligerant; another is at the beck & call of his Latina girlfriend; another is a hip but physically fragile local rock musician (and gay)and a bit out of place in this rough, corrupt world; another strives to make it in the world of affluence, only to find its corruption is as nefarious as life on the street--yet all who manage to create a synergy through their love for one another that is able to overcome the world of corruption of Detroit underworld (Hades)they are forced to confront over the murder of their "earth mother/foster mother." There's violence in the film; but there's just as much if not more in Shakespeare or Greek drama. Unlike those earlier versions, the familial loyalty to one another is what counts and color, class, sexual preference are shown to be irrelevant when the ties that bind are true. The dialogue is clever and crisp, and has that rare combination of being artifice, with the feel of a poetry slam while accurately imitating 'real' street talk The action is as riveting as the banter, and although there is one 'required' blaze of gunfire scene that could have been toned down a bit, the film is faithful to the roots of tragedy--albeit here the characters are imperfect gods of the neighborhood rather than of Olympus. One would be hesitant to say a revenge film promotes family values, but the respect these four very different personalities have for one another--despite their human shortcomings--is a lesson many Americans should take to heart. And I sure hope nobody complains that the 'brother in charge' is white because of caucasian control of the media; the director/writer is John Singleton.

Much has been said about the resemblance of "Four Brothers", and the old John Wayne film, "The Sons of Katie Elder", but I'm not going to compare the two. I'm not going to say this is the gritty urban version of the mid-'60's shoot-'em-up John Wayne western. I'm not going to say it. THE HELL I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT! Even the four brothers swagger and demeanor, their sibling regard for one another, and their distinct characters, while poking around dangerous city streets looking for the killer of their adopted mother, suggest the actors studied that classic western intently. Give them cowboy hats, a few cows roaming around, some six-guns at their side, and you have, "The Sons of Katie Elder", in leather and jeans. And that's fine because "Four Brothers" is as entertaining, as wholesome and nobly violent, as the pistol-packing template that inspired it. You come to believe in this brooding male family unit, and the Motown classics soundtrack, and other soul and rock music sprinkled throughout, (apparently Mom was a big Temptations fan), gives the film a cool '70's feel, like The Sons of Katie Elder meets Shaft.

I rented this movie and watched it so many times, I had to buy it. My DVD collection is quite small, but this movie (although extraordinarily violent) is definitely part of my collection now. The violence fits within the context of the storyline and the family element of these four tough characters is believable. I Loved this movie.

Have you ever watched a movie and thought that was better than I ever imagined it would be. Well, although I have enjoyed a few Singleton flicks, I did not expect to enjoy this one as much as I did.

The Mercer brothers return to their hometown of Detroit to bury a woman who loved them like they were her own. All four men, now brothers, were adopted by a woman, who did not care that they were different races with torrid pasts, but who loved them regardless of what they did. She instilled different traits in each of them in an effort to make them successful in life. Although, according to Terrance Howard's character, they were the only four kids that she could not "save" or find homes for. Anyway, these brothers are thrust together by their mother's death, and an investigation into who killed her and why. As they embark on a quest to find the truth they learn alot about themselves and grow closer. Through a series of conversations, we learn a lot about each character, and we see each of them fight their own demons, and navigate through self awareness as they solve the crime. We find that the love that they have for each is more than if they were blood brothers.

This story will make you laugh (there are some funny moments) and cry (one brother dies), but the entire story will make you smile. The real journey is the one that begins when your heart allows you to love unconditionally, and that is the true point of the movie.

Evelyn Mercer has been the shining light in a number of down and out kids' lives since she moved to Detroit. Her life was about helping every kid she could get a home and a chance at a better life. There were four kids she just couldn't find a home for; she gave them hers so they would grow up with some amount of love and positive direction in their lives even if the world outside thought they were nothing but trash. In return they loved her for it.

Four Brothers opens with Evelyn providing some of her loving direction to a young boy who was stealing candy from a corner store. After he leaves she goes about her shopping. A few minutes later she hears two men come in and rob the place. It is a very intense scene where she ducks behind a shelving unit and listens to the interaction between a Black masked man and the young Indian clerk. The man in the mask makes a poignant statement about how a brother can't make no living from the country his in and shoots the clerk. Evelyn's squeal of shock alert to her presence and they find and kill her. Big mistake.

Evelyn's four boys return home for her funeral, tie up affairs associated with a death and pick up where they left off as brothers. The four men; two black, two white and no blood relation are obviously brothers. In their neighbourhood they are known as the Mercer brothers: Bobby, Angel, Jeremiah, and Jack. As they begin to look into their mother's death they realize there's a little more to the story than a simple corner store robbery. The more they look the angrier they get and the angrier they get the more heads rolls. The police and the local crime boss are not going to keep them from their task of finding out the truth behind their mother's death.

The movie had a slow start but once the action starts it doesn't stop. Four Brothers has great cinematography, action, acting and story. It was not predictable at all. Just when I thought I knew who was behind everything there's an exciting twist. I loved all four actors playing the brothers and am looking forward to seeing it again. Some of the features include deleted scenes, a featurette on the brothers and one on a major snow storm stunt drive.

This movie was fantastic. Not only did it contain a ton of action and keep every viewer in the theater on the edge of their seat, but it actually had an interesting story plot behind it. This movie was about four adopted brothers who showed unconditional love for each other and their adoptive mother who was murdered. After their mother was shot in a grocery store robbery the four brothers vowed to find out who did this to their mother. The cast Tyrese Gibson, Mark Walberg, Andre Benjamin, and Garrett Hedlund were the perfect combination for each brother's role in the family. I agree with Maria's review Mark Walberg was absolutely phenomenal in this film. The Chicago-Sun Times rated this film a seventy-five on a one-hundred point scale, but in my eyes this film was close to a ninety point rating. This film was not to long and not to short; it was the perfect length about one-hundred eight minutes according to www.moviefone.com. This movie gives new meanings to surprise endings in a movie. If you like action movies, this movie is a must see.