What would you do if your mother just died and you knew you weren’t around to stop this from happening? What if all you got are your brothers to take revenge for has happened? Sounds like a normally Hollywood story doesn’t it? But take it back to the streets of Detroit in the streets with substance and a lot of style and fun and you will have a movie called four brothers. John Singleton in my view one of the best movie makers in Hollywood and one of the most underrated makers of our time gives a great story about 4 adopted sons set out to take revenge on there mother’s executioner.
The Story
four adopted children all went there separate ways, but they all back together once they find out there adopted mother has been murdered. They are all back in Detroit, back in there mothers house to find out who killed there mother. All four brothers are different in there own way and all four have a history of criminal records and violence behind them. Bobby ( Mark Wahlberg) he is the oldest and the hot headed brother out of all of them. Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin) the one that stayed in Detroit and the most sensible one who has a wife and kid, he has a good life. Angel (Tyrese Gibson) The macho man also know as the stud. The youngest a rock star look like Jack (Garrett Hedlund).They all back to burry there mother Evelyn Mercer. Evelyn Mercer took care of these boys and if it was not for her these boys would be in a worse place then they are maybe dead or in prison she took care of them and taught them how to be and live and took them mostly out of any trouble situation they were in, now she is gone. Evelyn died in a store robbery getting shoot. But the brothers find out that all this was a cover up infact it was contract killing that took place just to kill Evelyn to set her up. The brothers are really anxious to find out who killed there mother. As they go through Detroit knocking on doors and getting clues to who killed there mother, they wouldn’t know knocking on the doors maybe the devil he could answer. Victor sweets a crime boss of the Detroit was behind this whole thing. But going against Sweet and starting a war is too much not even the brothers could handle Victor Sweets as he has a lot of power. They will need to get revenge somehow but how? Well its out on DVD go buy it now. I myself watched it in cinema a year back and I loved this film and bought it on DVD. The story of this movie has a lot of twist and turns that I will not reveal because if I do then it will only spoil the viewing for the reader.
The Look Of the movie
The story you might think is typical but it is not typical at all with a lot of twist and turns, if you remember 8 mile? It has a similar look of 8 mile and the rocky movies. A totally Ghetto street film with a look of the blacks and also the whites in Detroit the main streets and how crime is like there. But also remember this film is very entertaining and has its humour side of it as well, a good viewing and an easy on the eyes camera work that looks amazing on screen.
The Action
If you are a big time action fan and a guy who loves movies about the streets like boys N the Hood (Who is the same director) then this movie is for you. A lot of gun shoots, car chase scene. One on One flight, trash talking and a lot of abusive language this film does make you think but if you love action then go for this movie. When the brothers get attacked at there own home when Victory sweet boys come to get them, that part is done very well. The car crashing scene saving bobby and angel not a total extreme matrix stunt film which I really do get board of special effects and wires, this movie is a gun fest no wire action flick if you know what I mean and that’s the movies I like I mean where are all the good old Rambo days hey? Where the stunts look amazing and people do not fly in the air and people call it action movies when infact they are flying. Well four brothers is it with sensible action that does look real and does not look fairy tale like.
What I Think About the movie?
Looking away from the action and humour side of this movie I think it is a very well made movie with a lot of things to think about. Firstly the movie does appeal to action movie fans but also takes you on roller coaster ride to finding out what actually happens and what was the reason for a murder like this to take place. A movie that shows you how four totally different brothers who does not have the same blood and also the same skin colour how they connect and act like real brothers. Shows you how you must act to get your way to get answers like how bobby disturbed a basketball game in front of a lot of people to get his answers (not saying you should do that) but it shows sometime you can not just be nice to get answers especially if someone has killed your mother. The Movie is a very well made action that is very entertaining and not a boring investigation but an investigation that four brothers took in there hands and making it entertaining and making it different then other films.
Performances
Bobby ( Mark Wahlberg) Does an amazing job as the older brother, he has the rough look with the hot temper. He differently looks like a hard man and the character bobby suits him very well.
Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin) The second oldest brother does well, the mature one a scene he can remember where the 3 other brothers accuse him to have something to do with there mother murder. Where he snaps and punches angel and shouts at his brothers how he took care of there mother and now they excuse him of killing her. He was a little quite in the first half but exploded in the second half with a great performance.
Angel (Tyrese Gibson) If you don’t remember this TONK man he was in 2 fast 2 furious. He did better in this film his macho man image was good and it suits. He was funny in some scenes where his girlfriends gets condoms out his pocket and she ask him what it is? “Oh Honey those are breathe Mints” His girlfriends starts shouting “Put the coco back in the closet” and throws her out the house. He does well in this film overall
Jack (Garrett Hedlund) He does well, as the rock star brother look he is the brother that has been through a lot before he was adopted. He plays his roll very well and leaves an impact. Especially when he gets shot and he is shooting in pain shows that he is a good actor and he should have some projects coming up, would like to see more of him indeed.
Final Verdict
A Movie about brotherly hood, a movie about the respect of all 4 brothers and a movie about revenge, a total great action film should be ranked as one the best action movies that year. Go watch it, defiantly a treat for action movie lovers.