I finally met my match this evening in the Gyllenhaal/Portman/Maguire film Brothers. This one is ultimately un-reviewable (by me) but fascinating nonetheless. I made it about 2/3 of the way thru this one and could watch no more, and in an inexplicable way it's a backhanded compliment, at least to the actors.
Let me explain- I would have to charactize those three as being in my Top 10 of living actors. They inhabit every role so fully and bring so much humanity to everything they do that they can make even mediocre films entertaining. And that's where this movie fails for me. Unknown actors with no emotional baggage in tow could have pulled this off, but watching those you've invested so much in fail so catastrophically on every human level is more than I can bear to watch...especially when it's portrayed so beautifully.
I cannot really criticize the film in any way. It's well produced, appropriately if not beautifully, shot and as well written as circumstances allow. The fact that I couldn't bear to finish it has more to do with me that the film, and I think it's commendable. I would urge anyone reading this to give it a shot; your baggage might be different.
