This film looked interesting from the moment I saw the trailer. Toby Maguire plays Capt. Sam Cahill, father of two daughters, husband to Grace Cahill. His brother, Tommy, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, has just gotten out of jail, while Sam is sent off to Afghanistan. While there, Sam’s helicopter goes down, and word is sent back home that he is dead. Tommy sort of fills the gap of watching over Grace and the little girls. Then Sam comes home, but he’s pretty messed up because of the things he suffered in the war.
This film looked interesting from the moment I saw the trailer. Toby Maguire plays Capt. Sam Cahill, father of two daughters, husband to Grace Cahill. His brother, Tommy, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, has just gotten out of jail, while Sam is sent off to Afghanistan. While there, Sam’s helicopter goes down, and word is sent back home that he is dead. Tommy sort of fills the gap of watching over Grace and the little girls. Then Sam comes home, but he’s pretty messed up because of the things he suffered in the war.
This film is directed by Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In America). He does a fine job of it, too. But it turns out this is a remake of a Danish film of the same name, that was just made in 2004. It was written by David Benioff, and co-written by Susanne Bier, who wrote and directed the original.
I always find that sort of perplexing. Why would the writer/director of the original bother to give their own film to another director to remake? Were they that unhappy with their own version? Did they really want to see what another director could do with it? Did they get a big fat paycheck? I can’t imagine the last being the case here, as it’s not a big Hollywood blockbuster. This is an Oscar type movie, but from what I could see, only for the actors.
Jake Gyllenhall puts in a fine understated performance here. His Tommy makes a clear but unhurried transition from the bad-boy brother to a man with a purpose and growing sense of maturity. Natalie Portman is so freakishly beautiful I can’t take my eyes off her. Oh, and her performance is subtle and certainly lends a sense of grace, just as her character’s name suggests. And indeed, Toby Maguire is perhaps the most affecting in the film. He really gives an intense portrayal of a man very disturbed by his experiences in the Middle East. He is often quite chilling. He is really worth watching here.
But in the end, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. There are some incredible scenes, but the final pay-off didn’t seem big enough. Some emotional component got left behind somewhere. I’d like to see the original version of this film to se how it compares. And yet, the weird thing is that the original writer/director had her hand in this. Perhaps it was the actors that didn’t pull it off quite right?
One other random note: When did Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire become old enough to play a married couple with two kids around 7 years old? I don’t know, it just seemed weird for me. Sure, they’re old enough, but weren’t they just Princess Amidala and the kid from The Cider House Rules? Yeah, yeah, I know; shut up, old man.
There are some really great scenes here, so I would say check it out if you’re looking to see a drama on some afternoon. A matinee price will make you feel better about it, though. I just didn’t think I got my emotional money’s worth. But at least there wasn’t a bunch of blubbering super heroes and villains in it like in Spider-Man 3. Geez, if I never see that movie again, it’ll still be too soon. Spider-Man 4 better not suck it.
~ Neil T. Weakley, you average movie-goer, calling this one a little above average.
