The Sisters Brothers - Movie Review

Cinema can be magic. Or it can be hackneyed, shallow, choppy and trite. Sometimes, we are treated to a film that is unique, engaging, intriguing and fun. The Sisters Brothers falls into the latter category. It is a nice diversion, presenting well crafted characters in a humorous old west period piece.

In 1849, the United States experienced a Gold Rush as prospectors rushed westward to stake their claims. A year later, in 1950, a mysterious figure known as "The Commodore" dispatches two gunslingers to chase down a chemist who has developed a new method for finding gold. They are preceded by a detective, whose job it is to locate the chemist and detain him until the muscle arrives. The chemist, Hermann Kermit Warm (Riz Ahmed) and detective, John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal), develop an odd relationship rooted in their shared intellect. They hatch a plan to elude the muscle, which comes in the form of two violent brothers who share the last name "Sister." The Sisters brothers are Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix) and Eli (John C. Reilly). The brothers have a reputation for violence that precedes them. The result is a violent trek from Oregon to San Francisco as the brothers work through their emotional baggage while seeing through their mission.

The Sisters Brothers is based on a book by the same name written by Patrick DeWitt. The screenplay was adapted by two veteran writers. Jacques Audiard and Thomas Bidegain wrote the screenplay for A Prophet which was an Oscar nominated foreign language film in 2010, as well as several other screenplays. The story provided a nice foundation, with a story that could go a number of directions, but ends with a surprisingly happy and anti-climactic ending. That was part of the beauty of this film. It was character driven, providing great opportunities for depth and humor, while providing an opportunity for a plot twist that gives us a (relatively) happy ending.

The film consists, primarily, of two intertwined narratives that eventually coalesce into a single story. The brothers were cast exceptionally well. John C. Reilly is a big guy. Joaquin, who plays his younger brother, is much smaller. They are an odd match for brothers. Joaquin has an edgy character, but there are subtle dynamics between the brothers that are eventually ferreted out in the story. The pair were perfectly cast in the role, creating some really funny, bizarre moments. The other half of the story is carried by Gyllenhaal and Ahmed. They also had an interesting dynamic. They played a more civilized relationship which also required great chemistry. They were great together. If I were to question any of the casting choices, it might be Riz Ahmed, but it worked for me. In an odd way. But it worked nonetheless.

There was a fifth star of The Sisters Brothers I would be remiss not to mention. The American west. Aside from presenting a humorous, engaging story, this film managed to send a love letter to the picturesque landscapes or the western United States. As the brothers ride their horses from Oregon to San Francisco, viewers are treated to some amazing cinematography that captures the raw, majestic beauty of the west. While this isn't a western in the traditional sense of the genre, the scenery and cinematography captured the beauty of the vast mountain ranges and rugged terrain. The costumes and sets also helped complete the illusion of being transported back to a pristine age as the west was first settled. It was a nice backdrop for rich characters, strong dialogue and dry humor.

The MPAA rated The Sisters Brother with a well-deserved R rating. The film has some adult themes, strong language and sexual situations. However, the violence is the primary driver of this rating. There are numerous shoot-outs in this film, to include many close range executions. There is also a disturbing scene where a character has his arm cut off. There is also graphic talk of torture at one point. Overall, the material is questionable, but not extreme. The arm scene was kind of hard to watch. But teen audiences or older should be able to handle the material in this film. The run time is a lengthy two hours, one minute. It felt a little long at times, but mostly had strong pacing.

The Sisters Brothers is a rare treat. While not perfect, the film was original. There is a lot to be said for that. The dialogue was fresh, the characters engaging, the actors endearing and the story unique. The film also managed to eke out quite a few laughs along the way. It was a fun way to spend two hours on a Saturday afternoon. I complain a lot about the lack of originality in Hollywood. So I have to give props when they get it right. This film was well done. 8/10.

Trailers and images subject to copyright.