Brothers - Zwei Brüder. Eine Liebe

Eine "schwierige Psychologie“ nach amerikanischer Art, d. h. ein bisschen platt, aber emotional stark. Die Figuren sind ausgezeichnet dargestellt, man glaubt ihnen in jedem Augenblick; die gespannten Szenen im Irak sind beeindruckend, das Ende rührend. Und Natalie Portman ist die dream-come-true Ehefrau von fast jedem Mann. (26.01.2010)

Even though I didn’t watch the Danish original, I was able to figure out how the story would develop after ten minutes or so, and that’s pretty much all I can criticise Brothers for. A strong topic, excellent direction and brilliant performances by the main trio. Some of the final scenes strongly reminded me of last year’s performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in Revolutionary Road. Maguire’s character gave me goosebumps several times and I can imagine him in a psychological horror film. Strong four stars. (30.12.2009)

Großartige Schauspielerei, darum geht es ja hier eigentlich letzten Endes überhaupt. Anders als die Autorin der Originalversion, Susanne Bier, hat sich der erfahrene Jim Sheridan hier eindeutig für einen fließenden und orthodox melodramatischen Stil entschieden - Brothers sind handwerklich gut ausgeführt sowie straff, sie vermögen es, auf den ersten Blick einen tiefgründigen Eindruck zu hinterlassen, jedoch nach dem Anschauen bleibt eine seltsame Leere übrig. Der Film verbirgt nämlich nichts unter der aufgepeppten Fassade als eine Art sorgfältigen Pazifismus und einer einfachen Psychologie. Und U2-Musik passt hier gut dazu. All diese Glattgebügeltheit sowie die dezenten moralischen Appelle sind leicht mit ideologischer Unbesiegbarkeit zu verwechseln. (07.02.2010)

Jim Sheridan approached it cleverly. He doesn't turn the cold atmosphere of the original film into emotional blackmail, but still doesn't want to immerse the viewer in the same filth as the characters. He maintains a reasonable distance with a creatively crafted soundtrack and warm camera work, and surprisingly wins the battle against comparison to the original. The original Brothers and their all-encompassing depression lost strength at certain moments, but here the irretrievable loss of idyll due to its more honest depiction is even more fatal. 85% (09.02.2010)

A very emotional story and strong theme. Although that in itself would be useless if it weren't for the perfectly chosen cast. I usually get lost in psycho movies like this and want out. Here I was led by the hand by the amazing Natalie Portman. 4 stars. (30.10.2010)

All three leads in this movie are showing off here that they work hard for their actor’s wages. The movie is a very nice intimate drama where I'm just not very happy with the ending, so I guess that's why I'm giving it 3 stars. The trailer was a bit misleading for me, I was assuming things that never happened, which is quite a shame because I kind of wished they had (when you see it you’ll understand). I haven't seen the original film, and I don't want to see it. This was enough for me. Maybe I'm just a little more disappointed because I was looking forward to it so much. So – if you want to see some human pain, some human happiness, enjoyable performances by the actors, and a shitty war, this movie is made for you. It's just quite possible that you'll be annoyed at times by the over-smart little girls, but that's become such a trend now, so you just had to get used to it. (11.01.2010)

The Danish original and the American remake of the same name can serve as an excellent comparison between European and American (specifically Hollywood) cinema. The European version tends to be more raw, not shying away from controversial topics, and is able to film them in a controversial way. The American version, on the other hand, films the same themes more pleasingly and tames the edges. Both films deal with the aftermath of wartime trauma, but while the Danish version is merciless towards its protagonist, gradually stripping him of everything, including hope, the American version is watered down and lacks the courage to thrust its characters into irreconcilable conflict. The family crisis is actually caused by a misunderstanding and is resolved in a compassionate way leading to forgiveness. Nevertheless, I would not condemn Sheridan's version because the Danish film is burdened by their adherence to Dogme 95. Like any dogma, it restricts, flattens, and irritates. The American version is simply more cinematic, more colorful, and features internationally acclaimed stars. However, I also have a complaint with the American version in that Tobey Maguire and Natalie Portman are too sweet and young for the characters they are supposed to portray. It's as if the producer wanted to sell this serious topic to American teenagers. Natalie looks like she had her children while still in high school, and Tobey, who is supposed to play the older, more mature of the two brothers, would be better suited for the role of a younger, immature troublemaker. And one last thing - as selfish as young children can be in their love, what escalated the family conflict is something they would probably never say in the real world, and certainly not think about at their age. Overall impression: 60%. (31.08.2014)

A great drama with brilliant actors. Natalie Portman as the dream wife and Tobey's psychopathic escapades nearly took my breath away. The perfect scene of the rearranging of the cups with a gun in hand says it all. (02.04.2010)

I like Sheridan's directorial style and the sufficient rawness you see in some cleverly edited scenes. There are some things we’ve seen a hundred times over and some that are interesting. Definitely an unusual perspective on war syndrome and depression that many people have, but without unnecessary moralizing and exaggerated wisdom. Good acting performances in a film that has something to say. (25.04.2010)

I didn't expect it to ever happen again, but after all the Ryans, Lists and Apocalypses, my dislike of war has now deepened even further. It’s not complex or strongly patriotic, it’s an emotionally gripping psychological drama that says what it wants to say and still manages to entertain with thoughtful dramaturgy and performances. And if you're a guy and you like Natalie Portman, you've got one more reason to watch. 85% (14.07.2014)

Well chosen actors, catchy musical theme, emotions, emotions, and more emotions... But it's definitely worth watching – at least for the aforementioned acting trio and, just for the record, Natalie Portman looks really damn pretty :)) (13.06.2010)