Brothers Sniff
Revised, error corrected: When Tuesday morning's final roster of Toronto Film Festival selections is announced, I for one would love to see Jim Sheridan's Brothers (MGM, 12.4) included. It's a remake of Susanne Bier's 2004 Danish-language original about a younger "bad" brother (Jake Gyllenhaal in Sheridan's version) stepping into the familial shoes of his older "good" brother Tobey Maguire) after the latter disappears during an enemy skirmish in Afghanistan.
Gyllenhaal, Portman, Maguire
Natalie Portman plays the wife-mother whose loyalties shift, or at least adapt to new realities. Sam Shepard plays the gruff and disapproving pater familias, the father of Gyllenhaal and Maguire. David Benioff (The Kite Runner, The 25th Hour) adapted the screenplay.
Over the last couple of days I've written and called Sheridan (who's in town) to ask if Toronto might happen, and I've heard nothing back. I asked incoming MGM marketing guy Mike Vollman, who said something along the lines of "I haven't heard" or something like that. I also asked MGM corporate guy Jeff Pryor and he, too, claimed ignorance of the particulars, etc. You can interpret these three guys saying nothing as an indication of something or not. Probably not, I'm guessing, but it's only 72 hours to Tuesday morning.
Tobey Maguire (middle), Natalie Portman (r.) talking to unidentified hooded figure on set of Brothers.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 16, 2008 at 11:45 AM
comment #1
erniesouchak says ...
How much doe-eyed dreaminess can we stand in one movie? Plus, let's not forget how wretched "In America" was.....
Posted by erniesouchak at August 16, 2008 12:41 PM
comment #2
Richardson says ...
Will the brothers wear signs so that I can tell them apart?
Posted by Richardson at August 16, 2008 12:54 PM
comment #3
hollfan says ...
Thanks for posting about Brothers, Jeff. Fingers crossed it'll be at Toronto but if not, hey, the release date's not too far off.
Posted by hollfan at August 16, 2008 1:12 PM
comment #4
bmcintire says ...
More like " . . . a younger "bad" brother (Tobey Maguire in Sheridan's version) stepping into the familial shoes of his older "good" brother (Jake Gyllenhaal) after the latter disappears during an enemy skirmish in Iran where he changes his name to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and becomes president of the Islamic nation."
And sorry, but IN AMERICA was fucking awesome, Jeffrey's hate for Paddy Considine's "Fi-Fi-Fo-Fum" notwithstanding.
Posted by bmcintire at August 16, 2008 1:41 PM
comment #5
Pinko Punko says ...
I'll grant In America some tweeness, but it had some totally killer moments. While none of us have souls (sorry), if we did, you wouldn't have one, ernie!
Posted by Pinko Punko at August 16, 2008 2:03 PM
comment #6
actionman says ...
In America was "wretched?" What movie were you watching, dude?
Bier's Brothers was excellent. Very, very dark. Not as good as After the Wedding or Things We Lost in the Fire but damn good nonetheless.
Very curious about this remake....the cast is sharp enough and Sheridan is a serious filmmaker...we'll see...
Posted by actionman at August 16, 2008 2:10 PM
comment #7
BurmaShave says ...
Yeah calling IN AMERICA wretched is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard, especially acting like anyone would agree with you. Let's not forget what bad taste you have.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 16, 2008 2:33 PM
comment #8
Nikki61 says ...
Sorry to burst your bubble, Jeff, but it is Tobeys character as the "good all american guy" disappearing in Afganistan and Jake plays the "black sheep" brother.....
Otherwise I agree with you - Toronto would be great - the film deserves a bit buzz. First test screenings have been very good according to someone on a NP board.
Posted by Nikki61 at August 16, 2008 2:40 PM
comment #9
K. Bowen says ...
Well, that's three actors I don't think much of. Can't wait!
Posted by K. Bowen at August 16, 2008 2:43 PM
comment #10
Chapman Carruthers says ...
Seeing these two guys' names on a poster makes me want to skip the movie altogether. Jake Gyllenhaal as a militaryperson disappearing in Afghanistan? Please. The only sort of misadventure he's suited for involves him disappearing, shirtless, into the wild outskirts of Malibu with his bike and McConaughey.
Posted by Chapman Carruthers at August 16, 2008 2:47 PM
comment #11
nemo says ...
At least Natalie Portman looks good in that picture. She should go for that early 1960s young Jane Fonda look more often.
Posted by nemo at August 16, 2008 3:51 PM
comment #12
lazespud says ...
Wasn't Jake being prepped to step in the shoes Maguire in Spidey 2 (or was it 3) when Maguire was trying to play petulant hardball, claiming his back was hurt from that horse flick. If he's "stepping into" Maguire's shoes in this thing, it adds some kind of odd irony.
Speaking of Jake, has anyone seen that freakish shot of his muscles from a week ago? I have no idea how he got that way, but isn't it an open secret nowadays that when an actor gets pumped up for a role, they are typically on a roid program? I've heard those rumors about stallone, of course, charlie sheen in the hot shots movie, christian bale for batman, etc. I mean Jake was just plain ripped...
Posted by lazespud at August 16, 2008 6:26 PM
comment #13
teeem says ...
seen it. it's ok, 'cept for a glaring little plot problem: an American MIA is reported KIA without a body. that would never happen.
the other notable thing is that Maguire, who has never really been great, is so spectacularly commited that he might even get nominated for this. actually, i'll bet on it.
Posted by teeem at August 17, 2008 1:00 AM
comment #14
gruver1 says ...
Wells to teeem: Where and when did you see Brothers? Can you share a bit more? How does it compare to the '04 original?
Posted by gruver1 at August 17, 2008 7:53 AM
comment #15
teeem says ...
dear gruver,
i saw a test screening at Sony a month ago. i also saw the original "Brothers" a year ago, where Sheridan himself questioned the audience for feedback about what they liked and didn't like, what would work better, etc. that's why i was especially interested in seeing what he did with it. he ignored or couldn't work in my comment to him about the KIA/MIA problem, which was also in the original.
i felt the original was a bit weak, reminding me of "things we lost in the fire". i did fall in love with Connie Nielson, but didn't buy the military character as portrayed by the lead from "the Celebration"(which i absolutely loved).
Jake and Portman were sweet, Shepard adds a small but interesting motivation that i don't remember from the other version, Tobey is the revelation.
Posted by teeem at August 17, 2008 11:14 AM
comment #16
Circumvrent says ...
Funny that Sam Sheperd's in this, as the first thing that plot summary made me think of was TRUE WEST.
Posted by Circumvrent at August 17, 2008 12:28 PM
comment #17
Nick Plowman says ...
I would like to see "Brothers" soon, love the cast
Posted by Nick Plowman at August 17, 2008 2:04 PM
comment #18
Metome says ...
Chapman Carruthers, what adds to your ignorant and pathetic post is that you don't even have your facts right.
Love this cast and am really looking forward to the movie. I really hope it does make it to TIFF. As mentioned above, test screenings have done very well. I hope it gets some buzz.
Posted by Metome at August 17, 2008 3:58 PM
comment #19
dd
says ...
Bier's Brothers was excellent. Very, very dark. Not as good as After the Wedding or Things We Lost in the Fire but damn good nonetheless.
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Posted by dd
at May 10, 2010 11:59 PM