Brothers

2009

Brothers

Critics Consensus

It plays more like a traditional melodrama than the Susanne Bier film that inspired it, but Jim Sheridan's Brothers benefits from rock-solid performances by its three leads.

63%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 156

62%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 194,452
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Brothers Photos

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Movie Info

Jim Sheridan's film, adapted from Susanne Bier's 2004 movie, concerns Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire), a Marine who receives orders to ship out for yet another tour of duty in Afghanistan. But before he leaves his supportive wife, Grace (Natalie Portman), and his two elementary-school-age daughters, Sam picks up his black sheep brother, Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal), who has finished a prison stretch for robbing a bank. While overseas, Sam's aircraft gets shot down and he's thought dead. Back home, irresponsible Tommy gets his act together in order to be an anchor for Grace and the girls, and the two grow emotionally -- though not physically -- close. As the family finally begins to make peace with their grief, soldiers rescue POW Sam and he returns home. Sam's experiences overseas have caused him such emotional turmoil, he has a difficult time adjusting to civilian life, and soon his fear and paranoia manifest themselves in the form of jealousy for his brother's relationship with his wife. Sam Shepard and Mare Winningham co-star as the brothers' father and stepmother. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
  • Rating:
    R (for language and some disturbing violent content)
  • Genre:
    Drama, Mystery & Suspense
  • Directed By:
    Jim Sheridan
  • Written By:
    David Benioff
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $28,501,651
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Lionsgate Films

Cast

Tobey Maguire
as Capt. Sam Cahill
Jake Gyllenhaal
as Tommy Cahill
Natalie Portman
as Grace Cahill
Sam Shepard
as Hank Cahill
Mare Winningham
as Elsie Cahill
Clifton Collins Jr.
as Major Cavazos
Bailee Madison
as Isabelle Cahill
Taylor Geare
as Maggie Cahill
Patrick Flueger
as Private Joe Willis
Carey Mulligan
as Cassie Willis
Omid Abtahi
as Yusuf
Navid Negahban
as Murad
Arron Shiver
as A.J.
Aaron Shiver
as A.J.
Ethan Suplee
as Sweeney
Ray Prewitt
as Owen
Rebekah Wiggins
as Marine Wife
Carrie Fleming
as Marine Wife #2
Jenny Wade
as Tina
Sheila Ivy Traister
as Pilot
Chad Brummett
as Co-Pilot
Jason R. Lone Hill
as Lt. Sanderson
Jason E. Hill
as Lt. Sanderson
Kevin Wiggins
as Navy Chaplain
Yousuf Azami
as Taliban Leader
Yusef Azami
as Taliban Leader
James Dever
as Sgt. Major Dever
Kevin Adkins
as Flag Detail Commander
Johnnie Hector
as Cop #1
Jeremiah Bitsui
as Cop #2
William Lawrence Allen
as Cop #3
Benjamin Baldwin
as Cop #4
Richard Wade
as Crew Chief
Luce Rains
as The Nose
Enayat Delawary
as Ahmed
Rick Lamonda
as Elvis
Paul Ramos
as Sentry
Shawn Bryan
as Marine Cadence
Oscar Meija
as Uniform in Helicopter
Oscar Mejia
as Uniform in Helicopter
David Bachelor
as U.S. Navy Chaplain
Zachary Grand
as Afghanistan Boy
Michael Aragon
as Terrorist
Iris Dunbar
as Burka Woman
Justin Marmion
as Marine Hostage
Robert Mitchell
as Marine Resucer #1
Collin D. Barry
as Marine Rescuer #2
Janet Sanford
as Mourner at Church #1
Casey Sanford
as Mourner at Church #2
Gary Moore
as Marine Mourner #1
Eric Steinig
as Marine Mourner #2
Colleen Frye
as Woman in Church
James Duffy
as Man in Church
David Manzanares
as Bartender "Dave"
Michael Castellano
as Afghan Fighter
Carol A. Salazar
as Woman on Bridge
Wendell Sweet
as Orderly
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News & Interviews for Brothers

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Critic Reviews for Brothers

All Critics (156) | Top Critics (50) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (57)

View All Critic Reviews (156)

Audience Reviews for Brothers

  • Oct 01, 2013
    An incredibly powerful and heart wrenching drama, thanks to the amazing and beautiful performances of the 3 main leads - Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal, and the great supporting cast. The film comes to an emotional climax that is so electrifying, leaving one deeply drawn into the lingering emotional exhaustion so well delivered by Tobey Maguire.
    Chrisanne C Super Reviewer
  • Jun 15, 2013
    In this movie, Tobey Maguire doesn't look old enough (or hot enough) to be Natalie Portman's husband. Also this is not 1950.Jake Gyllenhaal should do more than just "kiss" Natalie Portman. Come on, Hollywood!
    Juli R Super Reviewer
  • Oct 22, 2012
    I can't even imagine being Sam Cahill and going through what he did. This is a powerful movie and necessarily is left unfinished.
    Red L Super Reviewer
  • May 28, 2012
    Excellent. I didn't think I would enjoy this film, but I ended up loving it. It was great from beginning to end, and every cast member is just perfect. Gyllenhaal and Portman both give great performances, and Tobey Maguire pulls off the best performance of his career, bringing out emotions and playing a character type that was otherwise foreign to him before this film...and totally makes up for Emo-Peter in Spider Man 3.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
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