Director: Jim Sheridan
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Sam Shepard
MPAA: Rated R for language and some disturbing violent content
US Gross: US$ 28.5 Million
Worldwide Gross: US$39.0 Million
Sam (Maguire) and Tommy Cahill (Gyllenhaal) are two brothers with different characters. Sam is a Marine, a good man with a beautiful wife, Grace (Portman), and two little daughters, respected by his society and loved by his father (Shepard), a retired Marine. While, Tommy is a troubled young man with no job and hated by his father, as he could not live up to his father's standard as his brother could. The same week Sam is about to embark on another tour-of-duty for his country, Tommy has just gotten out of jail. Even though different, the two brothers live along well and love each other. When Sam is presumed dead as his helicopter is shot down in Afganishtan, Tommy feels responsible to comfort his brother's wife and children from their grief. He then starts to spend a lot of time and be there for them. But as their relationship becomes closer, Tommy and Grace begin to feel attraction towards each other.
The reality is, Sam is not dead. He is rescued by his fellow soldiers, after being captured by Taliban for some times. He is then sent back to his country but coming home a different man, as he has suffered an unspeakable trauma from the tortures of the Taliban soldiers and becoming emotionally unstable. The situation gets worse as Sam is growing suspicious towards his wife and his brother. And they are all caught in the middle of a complication that may shatter their family forever.
This movie has an interesting premise and good story, but did not executed well enough. It did not grasp our emotion strong enough as it should be, except the last furious scene by Tobey Maguire (an impressive acting by him). But some of the important scenes should have been made better and more dramatic. And the conflicts should have been sharper.
Tobey Maguire shows his different side in this movie, his acting is good as a disturbed husband and father, even though I still see some of Peter Parker's expressions in his face. (But it is maybe because he played the Spider-man character so well that Peter Parker image will always stay with him). Jake Gyllenhaal also gives a decent performance as the troubled but charming brother. The weak point is on Natalie Portman, whose expression here is bland, seems she is not really blend into her character.
This should be a good movie, but somehow in overall it did not give a full satisfaction. (MJ)
