Golden Globe Predictions: Film Categories

Golden Globe 2010 Predictions

by Mandy Rodgers

With Ricky Gervais serving as the Golden Globes’ first host, Hollywood’s oft-touted favorite award show should have several entertaining moments and perhaps a few surprises in the winners’ circle. Many of the categories feel like sealed deals, but there are still some tight races, and don’t forget the Cecil B. DeMille honor for Martin Scorsese. The look back at his career will be entertaining, and Marty’s usually a great speaker—how has he not won this award before?

FILM CATEGORIES

DRAMA

Avatar

The Hurt Locker **Upset**

Inglorious Basterds

Precious

Up in the Air **My Pick**

For me, this category might be the most perplexing. Walking into Up in the Air, I was convinced that it would bowl me over enough to immediately choose it for best film of the year. I had seen the other four, and all are impressive in their own ways but not one had completely convinced me that it could grab the gold during award season. Though I appreciate Up in the Air as a film (somewhat depressing and eerily timely), its screenplay and acting, I still was not convinced in its ability to win voters over. Personally, I enjoyed Inglorious Basterds the most, as an entertainment vehicle and as a great film. The Hurt Locker impressed me 90 percent of the way through, but the ending—important message but stylized in a bizarre fashion—took a couple of point away for me. Precious’ heavy tones and themes surely alienated many voters and audiences; Avatar’s lack of innovative story have turned many off enough that its stunning visuals and box office domination might not save it. The Hurt Locker could win Best Picture at the Oscar; Hollywood’s Foreign Press will give the honor to Up in the Air due to star power and the abundance of other nominations it received.

ACTRESS in a DRAMA

Emily Blunt – The Young Victoria

Sandra Bullock – The Blind Side

Helen Mirren – The Last Station

Carey Mulligan – An Education **Upset**

Gabourey Sidibe – Precious **My Pick**

I love Bullock (it’s true), but this battle is between Mulligan and Sidibe. Mirren is always an easy win, and Blunt’s Victorian turn is racking up rave reviews, but after you see Sidibe as the abused and neglected (is that an understatement) Precious and then see Sidibe squealing about Justin Timberlake in interviews, the transformation is readily apparent and mind blowing. For Mulligan, she’s being compared to Audrey Hepburn. You can’t get much better than that. 

ACTOR in DRAMA

Jeff Bridges – Crazy Heart **My Pick**

George Clooney – Up in the Air **Upset**

Colin Firth – A Single Man

Morgan Freeman – Invictus

Tobey Maguire – Brothers

Freeman is classic Freeman, which is always good. Clooney shows emotion somehow making us forget (for a moment) his movie star persona. Firth finally gets some recognition for the talent most of us have already seen. Maguire was mostly crazy-eyed and just un-Peter Parker. This one will go to Bridges, who evokes many feelings and sides of the human persona with this struggles and triumphs.

COMEDY/MUSICAL

(500) Days of Summer **My Pick**

The Hangover

It’s Complicated **Upset**

Julie & Julia

Nine

Out of this lineup, the only film I have not been able to watch is Nine, which has virtually fallen off the Oscar radar in many categories already with a horrific box office pull and pretty so-so reviews. The Hangover, though hilarious, is just too crude and crass to actually receive the honor on Sunday. Both of Meryl’s comedies possess winning aspects, but neither feel like a completely perfect film. My favorite for this category is (500) Days of Summer. Great acting, spot-on direction, inventive screenplay and an awesome musical number of its own featuring Hall & Oats’ "You Make My Dreams Come True."

ACTRESS in COMEDY/MUSICAL

Sandra Bullock – The Proposal

Marion Cotillard – Nine **Upset**

Julia Roberts – Duplicity

Meryl Streep – It’s Complicated

Meryl Street – Julie & Julia **My Pick**

Surprisingly, this section comes down to Streep vs. Streep, I believe. Kudos to Bullock for her double nominations (and the nominated movies are also her top two grossing films of all time), and Roberts had to have fallen out of her chair when hearing of the nomination. I love America’s sweethearts, but this isn’t their year, and conversations of Cotillard and her film have nearly ceased. Streep is good in both films, but she shines in Julie and Julia as the effervescent Child.

ACTOR in COMEDY/MUSICAL

Matt Damon – The Informant! **Upset**

Daniel Day-Lewis – Nine **My Pick**

Robert Downey Jr. – Sherlock Holmes

Joseph Gordon-Levitt – (500) Days of Summer

Michael Stuhlbarg – A Serious Man

Even though Nine has stumbled, it’s only chance at securing a win is for Day-Lewis. I mean, it’s Daniel Day-Lewis. Is there anything he doesn’t do perfectly? And here, he sings! Downey Jr. is clearly having fun with his career as of late and carries Sherlock Holmes, as does Damon in The Informant!, whose physical transformation and completely changed mannerisms are definitely worth noting.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Penelope Cruz – Nine

Vera Farmiga – Up in the Air

Anna Kendrick – Up in the Air

Mo’Nique – Precious **My Pick**

Julianne Moore – A Single Man **Upset**

The Supporting categories seem to be the least shakable of the show, and I have to agree with the consensus that Mo’Nique will walk away with a statue for her incredible turn as Mary, mother (can we really call it that?) to Precious. Very un-Mo’Nique like, so much so that I wanted to inflict crazy harm to her after watching the film—and she’s a comedian! The Up in the Air ladies deserve their nominations but love for them might cancel out. And looking at Moore’s history of always a nominee, never a winner is devastating, but she’ll get her win soon—hopefully. Oh yeah—and that all-star musical has a chance here too.

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Matt Damon – Invictus

Woody Harrelson – The Messenger **Upset**

Christopher Plummer – The Last Station

Stanley Tucci – The Lovely Bones

Christoph Waltz – Inglourious Basterds **My Pick**

The supporting categories always contain diverse and interesting actors and characters. Damon should be thrilled with his dual noms, and who doesn’t have a special place in their hearts for Captain Von Trapp, I mean, Christopher Plummer? Harrelson’s dramatic turn is getting tons of attention, while Tucci’s scary role in Peter Jackson’s all-talk-no-nominations drama based on the novel of the same name is sure to stupefy those familiar with his typical comedic characters. But as soon as Waltz (as Col. Hans Landa) ordered Shosanna (Melanie Laurent) a glass of meaningful milk, I was hooked on his winning numerous accolades for his work.

ANIMATED

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Coraline

Fantastic Mr. Fox **Upset**

The Princess & the Frog

Up **My Pick**

Pixar + Disney + Ed Asner + cute kid named Russell + cute dog named Dug + stunning visuals + touching, tear jerking story AND the aforementioned beloved Christopher Plummer…Need I say more?

FOREIGN

Baaria – Italy

Broken Embraces – Spain **My Pick**

The Maid – Chile

A Prophet – France

The White Ribbon – Germany **Upset**

Unfortunately, I was unable to watch any of the nominated movies here, and even though White Ribbon won at Cannes, I think the appreciation for Broken Embraces will put it over the edge.

DIRECTOR

Kathryn Bigelow – The Hurt Locker **My Pick*

James Cameron – Avatar **Upset**

Clint Eastwood – Invictus

Jason Reitman – Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino – Inglorious Basterds

We all know this fight is between Bigelow and Cameron and since they are exes, it makes it even more interesting! Not to take away from Eastwood’s prowess, Tarantino’s originality (and odes to film history) or Reitman’s edginess, I believe it comes down to the Little Film that Could and the Bonafide Blockbuster for the director race. So should Cameron win for the special effects-laden masterpiece that is Avatar or Bigelow for a character-driven drama also full of its own effects? I say Bigelow. Cameron’s been King of the World; let’s give it to the ex-Queen.

SCREENPLAY

District 9

The Hurt Locker **Upset**

Inglorious Basterds

It’s Complicated

Up in the Air **My Pick**

SCORE

Up **My Pick**

The Informant! **Upset**

Avatar

A Single Man

Where the Wild Things Are

SONG

Cinema Italiano – Nine **My Pick**

            Music & Lyrics By: Maury Yeston

I See You – Avatar
            Music By: James Horner and Simon Franglen
            Lyrics By: James Horner, Simon Franglen and Kuk Harrell

I Want You to Come Home – Everybody’s Fine
                Music & Lyrics By: Paul McCartney

The Weary King – Crazy Heart
                Music & Lyrics By: Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Winter – Brothers **Upset**

                Music By: U2

                Lyrics By: Bono

I want to give something musical to Nine. Not sure if this is an educated pick, however, I’ve heard the other songs and was not too terribly impressed. It’ll probably go to U2 or McCartney—no explanation needed. And yeah, I’m still bitter about Ryan Bingham’s being “too hung over” to complete an interview with me several years ago for The Red & Black. I hold a grudge.

Next post: TV predicts

Live Blogging the People's Choice Awards

The People's Choice Awards -- Jan. 6

One of the worst awards shows--not because it's voted by the people--but because all the winners already know they've won and those are usually the only people who show up...maybe live blogging it will spice things up! It's show time!

9:00 p.m. The awards begin with some very slow music...hmmm...Queen Latifah looks great in a black gown, but wait! Is she singing that song from Les Miserables that Susan Boyle made us listen to over and over again this summer while Simon Cowell looked astonished??

9:01 Never mind, she changed the lyrics about dreaming a dream to "dreaming to host the People's Choice Awards" and Steve Carell being in his underwear. Does she not remember this is the third (I think) year in a row she's hosted them?

Oooh it's a medley of songs. Now, Latifah is joking that people wanted Hugh Jackman to host this show too...he's laughing at that for way too long. Surely he doesn't want this gig.

9:02 Does Chevy Chase look drunk, and did Latifah just skat?

9:03 Ellen DeGeneres was just announced the winner of Favorite Host without other nominees? This seems fishy. At least she's sharing the award with Oprah whose show "was cancelled." Oh, Ellen...But why she calls out Sandra Bullock's 11th toe is beyond me...is she drinking whatever Chevy Chase  just downed?

9:05 Ellen turns presenter for Favorite Comedy Movie...who voted for 17 Again?? I want your name and phone number. 17 Again didn't win, but how was it nominated? The Proposal won, and thank goodness Bullock and Ryan Reynolds were right there to accept...who are these other people on stage?

9:07 Bullock and Reynolds had a dance prepared if they won...however, no one played music for them? They just handed it over to director Anne Fletcher and she kind of awkwardly dances and it's uncomfortable.

9:08 Tim Gunn and the one-Pussycat-Doll-anyone-recognizes are explaining some special sneak peeks of 2010 that will be shown through the broadcast. Starting with Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, which just looks like Gladiator with bows and arrows to me. Russell Crowe hasn't even aged! If Bryan Adams does not have a love ballad, I'm not watching...

9:11 One of the worst promos ever: "What do Johnny Depp, Taylor Lautner, Hugh Jackman, Keith Urban, George Lopez, Carrie Underwood, Sacha Baron Cohen, Hugh Laurie, Taylor Swift and Jessica Alba all have in common? They're here at the People's Choice Awards." Really??

9:14 Paranormal Activity parody with Queen Latifah is pretty funny. What if Paranormal Activity was really about making a sex tape with Cloris Leachman? Probably scarier than the original...Props to the real stars for appearing.

9:16 Rascal Flatts is introducing the kind of music that has "never stopped belonging." R&B. Their R&B band name would be "Boys to Rascalls." No one in the entire auditorium laughs. Who writes this crap?

9:18 Mariah Carey wins Favorite R&B Artist...Nick Cannon has to help the possibly drunk and tightly dressed Mariah up the stairs and then stands behind her. "My real friends know that they're my extended family..." slur, slur...she just called her dress a "drama" and said "I didn't mean to do this," and now she's talking about Nick and things "she shouldn't talk about." These people are TOLD AHEAD OF TIME that they won...why are the acceptance speeches so nuts??

9:21 Private Practice's Kate Walsh almost busted her ass coming down a ramp apparently, though I didn't see it. She presents Steve Carell with the Favorite TV Comedy Actor award. Everyone screamed extra for Charlie Sheen--he can't hear you in jail, crazies!

9:22 Surely Carell will have a good speech...He's having the audience repeat "That's what she said..." after his lame jokes about his "big" award...Carell has let me down, but at least he was prepared. He had to have been working on that bit for weeks.

9:24 The Spanish lady from Modern Family is really Spanish and likes to hit people, FYI. She's presenting Favorite TV Comedy Actress with James Denton. These presenter skits suck so much.

9:25 Tina Fey's nominee clip from 30 Rock is the funniest thing of this show so far. *Fingers crossed for Tina*

Alyson Hannigan?? I should have known she was going to win since she was in attendance...damn. I like How I Met Your Mother but was definitely pulling for Tina. And when Alyson thanks her husband, I have to snap back into reality that she's not the lesbian from Buffy...

9:27 20th season of Survivor preview with Jeff Probst!! 10 Heroes vs. 10 Villains. Gotta admit, this is good marketing. Revealing cast....NOW! Rupert! Russell! Colby! Gravedigger who opened bottles with his teeth! Parvarti! Dragon Slayer! Jerri! AHH!!! Go Survivor! I was so excited, I missed the lame promo for "after the commercial."

9:31 Hmm...watching the Grammy commercial, was Kanye West's outburst on Taylor Swift revenge for Vince Gill's knock on West last year? "I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?" He laughed, but what if he's been seething and waiting for his moment, and the VMAs just presented the perfect opportunity?

9:32 Jenna Elfman + Chevy Chase...best presenter duo so far. They star in comedy shows and are presenting for Favorite TV Comedy and realize the injustice, so they split the award...literally.

9:34 Wow, The Big Bang Theory has a cultish following that most have voted a ton. That show freaks me out, actually. Did they really just put up the show's official Myspace page link?? Do people use those anymore?

9:35 They almost cut the cast off, but then Jim Parsons talked and they let him finish...he is his character to a T, it seems.

9:36 Did Christan Slater just introduce "Mary J. BliZe"? I might have heard it wrong. Or maybe he said it on purpose to rhyme with "eyes" like how she punched her boyfriend in the "eyes?" Never mind...that YouTube video couldn't even really prove anything. But weird her song says, "Ain't nobody gonna treat you better/Ain't nobody gonna touch you better." Hmm..

9:45 Who are these people presenting a country award? One is Katie Cassidy from the new Melrose Place and the other is...I don't know. Kellen something? She is the highlight of that show but looks too shiny here.

9:46 Favorite Country Artist - Carrie Underwood. She hugs Keith Urban next to Nicole Kidman and then almost falls coming up the stage, but that shows "how excited she is." Her words. Not mine. Her speech was cute and seemed sincere. She gets a pass.

9:47 Paula Patton from Precious is pretty funny, given the horrific drivel they make everyone say. She presents Hugh Laurie with the Favorite Dramatic TV Actor award.

9:48 Right after she announces it, the annoying People's Choice Award voice also congratulates him, in case we missed it. Why is the whole cast coming on stage?? It's for Best Actor not Best Show! Are they confused? OK. He's dedicating the award to them? No! This is all staged, and they already knew they won Best Drama too, so they did a two-for-one presentation...this blows. Hugh kind of saves this with his own wit and charm, but Hugh Jackman, for one, looks very confused by what's happening.

9:51 No, Will i Am!! He just called Liam Neeson, Liam Nielsen when introducing the Clash of the Titans clip. I KNOW I heard that one. Do these people not practice at all? And they get super-nice gift baskets?? Clash of the Titans looks pretty entertaining though Huge dragons and stuff.

9:53 People's Choice Award Lady just promised us a Sandra Bullock, Drew Barrymore and Kristen Stewart catfight...I'm gonna hold her to that.

9:56 Latifah is back. I forgot we had a host. She jokes with Taylor Lautner about his constant lack of clothing...then makes Nicole Kidman, Taylor Lautner and Keith Urban take a picture with her...

9:57 Taylor Lautner is George Lopez's screensaver?? Ha! Lautner looks like he regrets attending this event right now.

9:58 Aw, George Lopez is not very funny but does make a jab at Tiger Woods' infidelities...

10:00 Lopez announces the winner of Favorite Comedic Film Actress with "You thought she couldn't top her work in Speed 2..." I love Sandra Bullock, but he's right. That movie sucked. It's okay though because they are super BFF in real life after she produced his TV show and made him who he is. Love her speech. You cry and laugh all in one! Makes up for the awkward one for Proposal.

10:02 Fellow Karate Kid (Redux with Will Smith's son) co-stars here. Don't ask Jackie Chan to lift his shirt, Taraji P. Hensen! Just introduce Favorite Action Actor!

10:03 From the nominees, with Hugh Jackman being the only one present, I predict he will win for Wolverine. OMG! I was right...

10:04 Jackman jokes about running for Gov. of California...hmm...then, he ruins the thought by doing a weird chant with someone in the audience and calling it an "action star thing." What. Is. Going. On.

10:09 Parody with Latifah time! This one's New Moon. I am a Twilight fan, but these movies are so easy to make fun of! Robert Pattinson's brooding looks mixed with Latifah's lines is great.

10:11 Inglorious Basterds just won Favorite Movie without other nominees again. Diane Kruger just accepted in France, and now they are presenting Favorite Breakout Movie Actor.

10:13 What a surprise...Taylor Lautner wins. And they show random fan girls in the audience. Oooh, and a quick pan to ex Taylor Swift who politely stands up and claps for her ex beau with her mom. She didn't look angry. Maybe no songs about "hairy, crappy werewolves" will be coming out anytime soon. Possible lyric: "You might be a werewolf, but you sure suck a lot like those vampires.."

10:15 Behind the scenes of glamming up the Miss People's Choice girl. "You've seen her all night..." Actually, I haven't noticed her at all. Oh no! A cliffhanger makeover segment?

10:16 It's official. This can't be for real...People's Choice Announcer Lady just said "Up next, it's a John Mayer vs. John Mraz vs. Keith Urban showdown in the battle for Male Artist." Uh...you mean JASON Mraz??

10:19 Phew, glad they're finishing the Miss People's Choice makeover exclusively from CVS!

10:21 Hmm... a desert island is kinda like Utah. Lost and Big Love unite to present!

10:22 Congrats, Keith Urban! Lucky you had that convenient seat on the front row "just in case" you won. Can they not even pretend they don't tell people in advance?? Keith doesn't care if we all download his music illegally and give it to friends!! And he loves a random man in the audience! Good speech!

10:23 Colbie Collait and Demi Lovato are not at all the same height. At all. Either Colbie is a giant or Demi is a "very short person." Isn't that Producing an Award Show 101.

10:24 Cobra Starship is falling for a "hot mess." Wait, Nicole from Pussycat Dolls is singing with them? Is Gossip Girl filming right now? Where's Leighton Meester? I never really understood why she was featured on this song anyway though.

10:32 Apparently, we can vote at peopleschoice.com for our favorite 3-D movie of 2009, and they will receive the People's Choice award at the "first-ever 3-D Movie Awards Show" in February. I don't get it.

10:33 New category: Favorite Web Celeb presented by Jessica Alba, who took a picture of the audience and promised to "tag" them all. I don't think she has a Twitter or anything, but I could be wrong. Actually, after that pitiful picture-taking performance, I don't think she owns a camera.

10:35 Ashton Kutcher wins. Which is rightly so. He's pretty much the King of Twitter, whatever that means. If Miley Cyrus had won for "deleting her Twitter and then rapping about it," that would have been quite the outrage. I still can't wait for the "I Love 2009" VH1 special when we look back at Kutcher's online celebration for beating CNN to 1 million Twitter followers. There have to be some good jokes there.

10:38 Favorite New TV Drama category has made this guy from Lost angry. I don't watch Lost, and I don't remember his name. The Cold Case lady is really excited that Vampire Diaries won because she used to work with the cast or crew or something. "And now, they're all in Georgia working with the vampires..." but she should have said "freezing their asses off."

10:39 Favorite New TV Comedy goes to Glee, and the entire cast is in attendance. Except for Sue Sylvester and Mr. Schuester. :( Glee bought the entire audience pizza?? They're giving it to random people in the audience! Pretty good acceptance! Wait, this is promoting stupid DiGiorno...People's Choice Lady ruined everything..

10:45 LL Cool J presents Favorite Female Artist to Taylor Swift. She beat out Beyonce again...uh-oh!

10:48 All is calm though and T.Swift just thanks her fans lots and lots.

10:50 Donate to Children's Safe Drinking Water! $10 provides a week's worth of water for 70 children?? That really is amazing.

10:54 Latifah just gave Sacha Baron Cohen the distinction of probably being the only one to have sat on Eminem's face. But isn't Mariah Carey there?? Oh, snap! ha...

10:55 Cohen is actually really subdued when presenting a missing Johnny Depp with Favorite Movie Actor, who he tells us has received more votes in the last 10 years than any other actor, so he just won Actor of the Decade too! Is he getting a little tribute and isn't even there?

10:56 He's there! He's there! Like how Cohen called him "Mr. Jonathan Depp." What his Johnny's deal with not ever sitting in the audience like normal award-getters? He always creeps out from backstage at these things. Oh well. I guess he's allowed.

10:58 Hmm... Johnny thanked all of us for "bestowing our treasures" on him. Not sure what that means and neither does Queen Latifah - that's the end of the show!

Streep Has ‘Complicated’ Decision Between Baldwin, Martin

It’s Complicated

2009

film review

by Mandy Rodgers

Rated: R

Director: Nancy Meyers

Starring: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell, Mary Kay Place, Rita Wilson and Hunter Parrish

For the past several years, it is often uttered in film communities and theaters, “Is there anything Meryl Streep can’t do?” After her last couple of roles ranging from the evil Miranda Priestly (The Devil Wears Prada), to the sing-songy Donna Sheridan (Mamma Mia), to the virtuous Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Doubt) and finally to this year’s iconic Julia Child (Julie & Julia), it’s no wonder she’s the most Oscar nominated actress in history.

In her latest outing, Streep might not act menacing or dance around a beautiful locale, but she still shines, proving that she can also portray the everywoman and someone her fans and peers can identify with.

Meyers directed and wrote It’s Complicated, a romantic comedy in the same vein of her previous films Something’s Gotta Give and What Women Want. She focuses her works on middle-aged women, their struggles and romantic conflicts. Meyers and Streep are actually the same age (both turned 60 last year), so she must know this demographic well.

Jane (Streep) is a divorcee past the point of wallowing in self pity but not quite relishing in her free sexuality. Her ex-husband Jake (Baldwin) cheated on her with the younger Agness (Bell) and then married the other woman who now wants to get pregnant again. (She has one child already.)

The two have been divorced for 10 years, so now can be cordial at special events. The rancor and deep anger has subsided, but the relationship is strained. Jane keeps herself busy with her bakery (two films in a row Streep plays a cook of some sort—did she miss her calling?) and the major project of building an addition to her Santa Barbara home with the help of architect Adam (Martin).

On a family trip to watch their eldest son graduate college, Jane and Jake find themselves at the same hotel bar all alone. He comments on her hair, she continues to chug wine and before they realize their ‘80s dance moves are outdated, they have fallen into bed together.

It seems the uncomfortable couple somehow managed perfect sex—Jake is ecstatic and glowing. But reality rears its head as Jane throws up in the nightstand drawer, and the audience appreciates Meyers’ honest story.

From that fateful night Jane has a crisis of consciousness and struggles to determine if her emotions for Jack and the affair are left over from the defunct marriage or could be something genuine. She consistently yields to his charm but mostly with deep consternation. All the while, Jane is getting to know super-sweet Adam, creating her current conundrum. Cause, hey, it’s complicated.

The plot lends itself to complication, but the movie does not push into any confusing directions. Jake is quite obnoxious, and how he was ever married to plucky Jane in the first place is the real question. And why did he wander to Agness, one of the most lukewarm mistresses in film history?

The material covers perhaps a popular subject to consider after ending a long-term relationship but from loathe to lust to love in five minutes flat seems highly improbable.

Meyers’ script is amusing and Streep carries the movie on her brilliant radiance, but somewhere this talented cast stumbles a little. Martin remains subdued, something he decently plays but leaves us longing for at least a slight pizzazz. Also, to have an R rating, It’s Complicated is extremely tame aside from a too-long scene involving weed, which begins splendidly but quickly wears out the gag.

            A little predictable, It’s Complicated finds a fresh spin on the story through Strasinski’s character Harley, fiancée to the rekindling couple’s older daughter. He unwittingly witnesses the duo’s rendezvous and wishes he could forget what he saw immediately. Jake and Jane’s actual children leave little impression, but more focus on Harley would have elevated the movie.

            Still, after It’s Complicated it’s hard not to understand the draw to Streep’s movies. I’m starting to agree with the flamboyant and Streep-loving Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) in ABC’s new sitcom “Modern Family,” when he said “Excuse me, Meryl Streep could play Batman and be the right choice. She’s perfection. Whether she’s divorcing Kramer, whether she’s wearing Prada…don’t even get me started on ‘Sophie’s Choice.’” You’re right, Cameron.

These 'Brothers' Struggle to Maintain Family

Brothers

film review

by Mandy Rodgers

2009

Rated: R

Director: Jim Sheridan

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Clifton Collins Jr., Bailee Madison, Sam Shepard, Mare Winningham, Taylor Geare and Patrick Flueger

            Several years after talks of Gyllenhaal replacing Maguire in part of the Spiderman franchise subsided, someone, somewhere (perhaps casting director Avy Kaufman) realized the two could play convincing brothers. Maguire (playing the eldest in film and in real life) is Capt. Sam Cahill, a standup husband, son and father about to begin a UN mission in Afghanistan. Sam has just picked Tommy (Gyllenhaal) up from jail when the movie begins, immediately demonstrating the dichotomy between the two brothers. Sam is always the magnanimous one helping his younger sibling. Tommy has screwed up his life with armed robbery and now drinks to ease the pain of his own embarrassment and his father’s disapproval.

            After an uncomfortable family dinner to welcome Tommy home and send Sam back overseas, it’s evident that this family has deep-seeded issues, starting with Daddy Cahill, Hank (Shepard), who does not keep it a secret how much he favors the older son who followed in his prestigious and honored military footsteps. Grace (Portman), Sam’s wife, struggles to keep the dinner in order and her daughters—Isabelle (Madison) and Maggie (Geare)—out of the conflict.

            As soon as Sam leaves, it’s no secret that he won’t be coming back immediately. The plot revolves around Sam’s believed demise and Tommy’s growing spot in Grace, Isabelle and Maggie’s life. The trailer is very misleading though, and the direction it points their relationship in is non-existent, however, all of the shown themes run through the film.

            Sam returns to his home after a horrific experience in war-torn Afghanistan being kidnapped, held hostage and led to perform unimaginable tasks. When he sees the new bond that formed between his brother and family, he can’t handle it and automatically confuses suspicion for truth, isolating himself from everyone.

Even though it’s a Hollywoodized version of the Swedish original Brødre, Sheridan’s Brothers still sends a powerful message to and about those dealing with war-related troubles in family life. Like one of this year’s acclaimed films, The Hurt Locker, Brothers explores the problems soldiers suffer from when returning to normal life. The instances examined here seem a little dramatized but all possible, and many are feeling similar effects every day in America.

Portman is all grown up playing a doting, devoted and strong woman. She often puts aside her own sadness for her two young daughters, but the pain of losing a husband, joy of getting a second chance and inevitable confusion as to how to help him is all evident in her eyes. Gyllenhaal remains thoroughly likable throughout the drama, even when he’s boozing it up at the local bar. Anyone who has dealt with disapproving parents can identify with Tommy’s plight.

The real enigma is Maguire. At the film’s start—before his gut wrenching tribulations in Afghanistan—he seems a little off. Painted as a beautiful and loving family portrait, Maguire’s Sam is unlikable from the start. Perhaps the rigid and structured life he leads as a captain has an effect, but the early scenes make the later ones—where he’s wild-eyed and crazed—less shocking. Still powerful, but less so than if he was emotionally available to his family from the film’s opening. Grace loves Sam, but Portman and Maguire have zero chemistry, and their love affair’s believability suffers from that. I actually agreed with Isabelle’s much-discussed outburst at the dinner table during a pivotal scene.

Both Madison and Geare provide several poignant moments in Brothers. These little girls (like their mom) experience several emotions ranging from depression to elation to utter fright, and each of their performances are remarkable. Isabelle grows so close to Uncle Tommy, she resents her father’s surprising return, and Maggie does not quite see her parents’ strife but senses something unsettling.

The character-driven drama offers little closure at its conclusion, like many wars or soldiers’ personal battles in society afterwards. Melodramatic moments sporadically litter the film, but the bulk of the material is complex and thoughtful, giving a hapless situation a sense of hope and improvement. The screenplay stays contemporary, yet keeps the plotline intact from the original, and Sheridan’s direction—minus Maguire pre-kidnapping—gives a candid look into this family’s attempt to overcome a considerable obstacle.

            U2’s song “Winter” and Maguire’s performance were both nominated for Golden Globes. Madison also was nominated for a Critics Choice Award.