Four Brothers (2005)

I remember catching the trailer for this and being intrigued by the cast and the plot. After leaving the theater, the movie still hasn't left me. The acting, top to bottom, was exceptional, especially the chemistry between 'the brothers'. The action scenes were incredible with some of the most awesome cars chases and shoot-out scenes I've seen. John Singletion is definitely an excellet and still-growing director who has outdone himself with 'Four Brothers'. Why are their comparisons between 'Boyz In Tha Hood' and 'Four brothers' ? Two totally different movies. BITH is a coming of age movie, FB is about bonds and sacrifice. Well worth a multiple look and a must have if you're into action and/or crime dramas whether you're a teenager or not.

Bobby Mercer (Mark Wahlberg) drives into his childhood Detroit neighborhood, returning home to bury his adopted mother, Evelyn (Fionnula Flanagan, "The Others"). At the funeral, he meets up with two of his three other brothers; Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin of Outkast fame), now a family and business man, and Jack (Garret Hedlund). Evelyn was the foster mother for hundreds of kids and adopted Bobby and his brothers when no one would have them. After the funeral, they return to her house and find their fourth sibling, Angel (Tyrese Gibson), sitting on the porch. Soon, they learn that Evelyn's death, during a convenience store robbery, may have been more than a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. An old childhood friend, Green (Terrence Howard, "Hustle and Flow", "Crash"), now a detective, warns them against taking matters into their own hands. But take matters they do, and they begin to investigate, leading them closer and closer to a local gangster, Victor Sweet (Chiwetel Ejiofor, "Dirty Pretty Things", "Melinda and Melinda").

When you read the synopsis of "Four Brothers", or hear about it, each of the elements seems to say "Huh? That won't work. That can't work." But combined, and married to good acting, good writing and good directing by John Singleton, the film is a surprisingly effective dramatic tale.

The key to the film's success is that it is R-rated. I don't necessarily need to see an R-rated film every time I go to the movies, but if the film is about four men trying to find the person who killed their mother, on the mean streets of Detroit, an R-rating will allow the filmmaker to be more realistic. In this age of PG-13 horror and action films, something gets lost. In a horror film, I expect to see some blood. In a PG-13 horror film, you aren't going to see a lot. In an R-rated action film, I expect to see some violence. "Brothers" is all the more realistic because Bobby and his siblings throw some punches, people get hit by bullets and they use some R-rated words. They grew up in the slums of Detroit. I wouldn't expect them to say "Gee, I'm sorry for that" or something equally as innocuous. And because the story centers on their quest to find a killer, some violence is to be expected. And delivered. Much like the recent R-rated "Wedding Crashers", filled with rating appropriate humor, I applaud this recent trend to deliver films with content appropriate ratings rather than trying to tailor the content for a kid-friendly (or a teenager friendly) rating. Filmmakers should stand by their vision and not allow it to be changed to meet an artificial rating.

Because of the R-rating, Singleton is able to allow the characters to be true to themselves. Because Bobby lives in a violent world, he doesn't have to think twice about using violence to get to his goal. Bobby is a really complex character and Wahlberg does a great job of conveying the conflicting emotions at work. Green introduces each of the Mercer boys to his partner, Fowler (Josh Charles), as they sit in their car watching each arrive for the funeral. After Green describes their various criminal records, Fowler is incredulous that Evelyn is regarded so highly in the community. "But, they are all the Dalai Lama compared to what they would've been without her influence." Bobby is clearly affected by his mother's memory and influence, especially staying in her home, but he desperately wants to find out the truth. As the oldest of the four boys, he also has to provide protection and leadership to his brothers.

Andre Benjamin is also surprisingly good. Often musicians don't make the transition to film well (Hello, Mariah Carey? Lance Bass? Justin Timberlake?), but Benjamin shows some real acting ability. He also shows his seriousness for the medium and doesn't sing during the film, or on the soundtrack. He is a family man with a wife and two daughters to think about, so he doesn't participate as quickly in his brothers' scheme. But when he becomes linked to the action, he realizes he has no choice and reluctantly participates. Angel and Jack are really Bobby's henchmen throughout, following him without objection to any corner of the neighborhood.

Terrence Howard does some good work as Green, but it is a supporting role and, compared to his other work in "Crash" and "Hustle and Flow", unremarkable.

As Evelyn, Fionnula Flanagan has the least amount of screen time, but she manages to instantly convey why this woman was so revered in the community. Before she is shot, she has a brief exchange with a local boy in the convenience store, quickly establishing her character. Later in the film, each of the boys imagines her talking to them. All of these appearances establish her as a tough, but kind woman who is only afraid when someone is pointing a gun at her face.

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays one of the most chilling villains in a long time. Victor Sweet is a vicious man and will take anything and kill anyone he wants. The final scenes involving him are particularly memorable, because the outcome is unexpected, yet believable.

Singleton is clearly trying to evoke the feel of gangster films from the 70s; Wahlberg even drives around in an old car from this period throughout most of the film. The cinematography is gritty and the soundtrack is filled with songs from this era. All of this adds to the feel of the film, making everything stand out.

But the film is most successful because it doesn't pull any punches. "Four Brothers" is a gritty, violent, believable look at the revenge four brothers take for their beloved mother's death.

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Never underestimate the bonds of family. That could easily have been the tagline for this terrific revenge/murder mystery. With "Four Brothers", director John Singleton (2000's "Shaft" remake) takes this mantra to the extreme, showing that no matter what, when the chips are down you can always count on your family to watch your back.

After their saintly foster mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is murdered in a convenience store, her adopted sons, two white and two black, come home to pay their respects. Three out of the four brothers, Jack (Garrett Hedlund), Angel (Tyrese Gibson), and Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin), are content to believe that what happened was just a case of wrong place/wrong time. However, oldest brother Bobby (Mark Wahlberg) believes that they should at least try to find who did this, and deliver some punishment. In their search for answers, the brothers discover that their mom was not just a random killing, but a planned execution that is tied into a vast conspiracy ranging from the Detroit police, to city council, to a local drug kingpin. Now, the brothers are in a fight to not only bring down those responsible, but also walk away with their lives intact.

The gritty, hard edged violence of "Four Brothers" gives the movie a modern urban western tone, that is nicely balanced by the brothers' bond to one and other. John Singleton was careful to show that though the oldest brother, Bobby, was hot-headed and wanted vengeance on the killers, words of wisdom from his other brothers prevailed. Causing him to stay his hand, until all responsible were discovered, and the conspiracy revealed. A well-written story that takes time to allow the audience connect with the brothers, and feel their deep pain, before engaging in the revenge arc of the story. This was key, so that the audience wouldn't view the brothers deeds as no better than those responsible for their mother's death. All of the actors in "Four Brothers" were outstanding, one character I wish they would have developed a little more was that of Detective Green (Terrence Howard), an uncorruptable Detroit police officer, who knows that the brothers are planning vengeance, but is torn between his duty as a cop and his duty as a friend of the family. The action scenes are fast, intense, and in some cases brutal, but never gratuitous, with only minimal amounts of blood and gore shown.

With its focus on strong family bonds, and a think before you shoot mentality, "Four Brothers" rises above your average revenge movie, and is a thoroughly entertaining and engaging film that most people will enjoy.

"Four Brothers" is rated R for violence, language, and sensuality.

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Much has been said about the resemblance of "Four Brothers", and the old John Wayne film, "The Sons of Katie Elder", but I'm not going to compare the two. I'm not going to say this is the gritty urban version of the mid-'60's shoot-'em-up John Wayne western. I'm not going to say it. THE HELL I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT! Even the four brothers swagger and demeanor, their sibling regard for one another, and their distinct characters, while poking around dangerous city streets looking for the killer of their adopted mother, suggest the actors studied that classic western intently. Give them cowboy hats, a few cows roaming around, some six-guns at their side, and you have, "The Sons of Katie Elder", in leather and jeans. And that's fine because "Four Brothers" is as entertaining, as wholesome and nobly violent, as the pistol-packing template that inspired it. You come to believe in this brooding male family unit, and the Motown classics soundtrack, and other soul and rock music sprinkled throughout, (apparently Mom was a big Temptations fan), gives the film a cool '70's feel, like The Sons of Katie Elder meets Shaft.

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John Singleton has a gift for depicting the gritty side of life and making it credible: there are reasons for heads-up defensive action in neighborhoods where perpetrators and victims live side by side in a world teetering on imbalance.

FOUR BROTHERS is a finely tuned, taut little film that demonstrates the influence of a caring adult on kids with little future can impact lives. Evelyn Mercer (a terrific Fionnula Flanagan) is a single woman who adopted four orphans as children and raised them tightly bonded brothers: two are white (ex-con Bobby Mark Wahlberg and gay musician Jack Garrett Hedlund: two are African American (gentle Angel Tyrese Gibson and stay-at-home businessman Jeremiah André Benjamin). The four brothers reunite when their mother is killed during a store holdup. Knowing that the Detroit police are a corrupt organization they take matters into their own hands, seeking out their mother's killers. Along the way they discover aspects of each other that draw them eventually even closer as brothers.

The cast is excellent with fine cameo performances from Terrence Howard and Josh Charles as polar opposite policemen, from Flanagan (who though murdered in the first frames of the film reappears to 'spiritually' influence the brothers), Chiwetel Ejiofor as the bad guy, Taraji P. Henson as Jeremiah's wife and Sofía Vergara as Angel's girlfriend. The story is solid if a bit predictable, but the messages are many about racism, brotherhood, family importance, and awareness of police corruption. Singleton directs with breakneck speed yet allows us time to get to know everyone in the story. This is a dandy action film with a heart. Grady Harp, December 05