Owned by Maguire?
An HE reader saw Jim Sheridan's Brothers, which I briefly discussed yesterday. I asked him to elaborate and he did, but I found his claim that Tobey Maguire's performance is the "revelation" as opposed to Jake Gyllenhaal and Natalie Portman's, whose performances he described as "sweet."
Maguire plays the solid, responsible, hard-wired husband-father who's captured by the bad guys during a skirmish in Afghanistan and is thereafter presumed dead; Gyllenhaal plays his younger, irresponsible, substance-abusing brother who gradually begins to take Maguire's place with his bereaved wife (Portman) and the kids. (There were two girls in Suzanne Bier's 2004 original, or so I recall.)
"Teeem" claims to have attended a test screening at Sony a month ago. "I also saw [Bier's] original Brothers a year ago, [after which] 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 Nielsen, but didn't buy the military character as portrayed by the lead from The Celebration, which I absolutely loved.
"Jake and Portman were sweet; Sam Shepard adds a small but interesting motivation that i don't remember from the other version; Tobey is the revelation."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 17, 2008 at 12:55 PM
comment #1
actionman says ...
The word "weak" belongs nowhere near the movie title "Things We Lost in the Fire."
Posted by actionman at August 17, 2008 1:48 PM
comment #2
Nick Plowman says ...
I can't wait to see "Brothers" myself.
Posted by Nick Plowman at August 17, 2008 2:03 PM
comment #3
Chapman Carruthers says ...
You found his claim ...
Posted by Chapman Carruthers at August 17, 2008 2:31 PM
comment #4
Mgmax says ...
Surely it's not a revelation that Tobey Maguire is a very fine actor.
It may be a distant memory, but it's not a revelation.
Posted by Mgmax at August 17, 2008 2:59 PM
comment #5
Filmsnob says ...
I'll believe it when I see it.
Tobey can't act his way out of a paperbag.
Posted by Filmsnob at August 17, 2008 3:04 PM
comment #6
PerfectTommy says ...
I would expect nothing less from the MTV
Best Kiss Winner.
Posted by PerfectTommy at August 17, 2008 3:08 PM
comment #7
Josh Massey says ...
Who didn't know the entire story after the words "and is thereafter presumed dead?" Based on the description, I feel I've already seen this movie 10 times.
Posted by Josh Massey at August 17, 2008 3:46 PM
comment #8
NotImpressedYet says ...
The original Brothers was a great little unexpected movie with awesome performances from all three leads. I would not be surprised one bit if the remake fails to surpass it.
Posted by NotImpressedYet at August 17, 2008 4:05 PM
comment #9
hcat says ...
I loved the original and was hesitant when they announce what I felt was a too slight cast for the remake. This is an oscar role for whomever can fill it but I dont see Maguire being able to be go dark enough. Sheriden is a great director, good with actors and the emotions that this is going to need, but Crowe, Denzel or DDL would have knocked this out of the park.
Posted by hcat at August 18, 2008 7:00 AM
comment #10
alan says ...
I have yet to recover from the horror that was Tobey's performance in The Good German. Granted, that was due more to extreme miscasting than anything else, but still...I'll believe it when I see it.
Posted by alan at August 18, 2008 10:52 AM
comment #11
BurmaShave says ...
MTV Best Kiss indeed... Maguire was one of the true highlights of TROPIC THUNDER, I look forward to him doing good work again.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 18, 2008 12:31 PM
comment #12
Supernetuser says ...
Natalie Portman always works hard at whatever she does. Now there is someone with a real work ethic.
Posted by Supernetuser at August 18, 2008 12:43 PM
comment #13
Metome says ...
I thought the original was a very good movie and I am a fan of these three actors, especially Jake G. Looking forward to seeing it for myself.
Posted by Metome at August 18, 2008 12:59 PM
comment #14
The Pope says ...
Before I get down to the nub of it, it has to be said that with the exception of his first film, Jim Sheridan has always scrambled to get a movie done right the first time. He almost always reshoots and reshoots and then edits and reshoots. And yet somehow, his modus has been successful more often than not. 5 Oscar noms out of 6 features is amazing. BUT...
I saw this in a rough cut before Cannes. A negative pick up, he took it to Cannes to tender bids. As far as I heard, no one nibbled. And I am not surprised. With the exception of one or two scenes (especially the birthday parts when one of the daughters starts bursting the balloons), there is NOTHING there. It felt like a TV movie, with poor visual decisions made throughout. A goofy attempt to resolve everything at the end with a clumsy letter only showed me how much work they had to do.
The editor is Jay Cassidy (nommed for Into the WIld), so maybe he has been able to work something... but Sheridan simply has no feel for the material. Like 50 Cent, no clue as to who these people are.
Posted by The Pope at August 18, 2008 4:27 PM
comment #15
insidah says ...
Padme Amidala. Worst faux Shakespearean performance in a sci fi movie ever. I don't think the hardworking Portman showed up hard for those three films. Her reedy voice and self conscious (aren't I beautiful and lusty) acting style are not the stuff of greatness.
Posted by insidah at August 18, 2008 6:35 PM