When Evelyn Mercer is murdered in the opening scene of Four Brothers, you don't actually see it happen. When she is killed, the camera shows a long shot of the store front. Gun blasts flash through the store windows, the shooters run out the front door and the story begins. The shooting is shown later in the film, as her four sons watch it played back on the surveillance tape. It almost didn't happen that way. One of the deleted scenes on the DVD is the shooting. It was a good decision. It's far more effective to see the emotions on her sons' faces than to watch it as it happened.
So many things about this film are wonderful. The story of four brothers, 2 black, 2 white, all adopted, all different, is a compelling one. Sometimes the story veers away from reality - would you really get away with waiving a gun around a basketball game - but that's what makes it interesting. How far are the brothers willing to go to find out who killed their mother? Very far, as you will see if you watch the film.
The one thing that I really disliked about this film is how the brothers continually demean each other. For example, the oldest brother continually taunts the youngest brother about being gay. The youngest brother was sexually abused before he came to the Mercer house so of course the other brothers have to use that to taunt him. It's quite despicable. But, according to the director and some of the actors, that's how brothers treat each other. Really? Why exactly? I've seen this behavior from men and I don't think I will ever understand it. To the brothers' credit though, they really do love each other and care for one another. That part does come through in the film in many ways even if they do act like jerks on occasion.
PS The shootout at the Mercer house is awesome. It's right out of a western - sans machine guns.
at February 13, 2006 6:47 PMi think that's what i liked best about this movie - the 'western' feel. so much (i think maybe all) of the movie was filmed in wide shot - not the typical close-up so the viewer can choose what to look at. this is risky because we stupid viewers might not look at the correct part of the sceen (riiiight). but it was very cool to have that choice. i also enjoyed the final shoot-out. especially since not everybody survived...realism....gotta love it!
Posted by: Cathie at February 24, 2006 4:44 PM