John Singleton is back and back in a big way with his new revenge drama Four Brothers. Four brothers tells the tale of four adopted siblings, Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin), Angel (Tyrese Gibson) and Jack (Garrett Hedlund) as they try to figure out who murdered their mother. As usual Singleton pushes the envelope a bit, throwing any sort of political correctness out the window and still managing to deliver a funny, entertaining, albeit violent film.
The four Mercer brothers, the worst of the worst of the kids their mother, Evelyn Mercer (Fionnula Fannigan), cycled out of the foster care system, reunite after their mother's funeral and soon they learn that her death that looked like a simple robbery gone wrong, was really a hit. Proving themselves more useful than the police working the case the brothers ferret out the conspiracy that led to their mothers murder.
What works about Four Brothers is the grittiness of it all. This is Detroit and Singleton doesn't shy away from the corruption that is rampant in the city. We see it all, gangsters, dirty politicians, corrupt cops and instead of feeling shocked or horrified at the level of corruption we just accept it as just how things are. The brothers themselves are pretty flawed, Bobby is a low level, hot headed gangster, Angel is an ex soldier with a thing for the ladies, and Jack is a wanna be rock star with an interesting sexual history. Jeremiah is the only one with a stable, law abiding life. He's a family man and a business man to boot.
The setting is dark and dreary and plays right into the seriousness and danger the brothers find themselves in as they search for the truth about their mother. The brothers are just as grimy as their surroundings, Bobby looks as if he could use a shave and Jack always looks as if he could use a bath, even after a scene of him showering.
But the film isn't all serious. The chemistry between the actors is great and Singleton gives us plenty of comic relief: Bobby's caustic and racially tinged sense of humor and best of all Sophi (Sofia Vergara) also known as La Vida Loca, who plays Angel's on again off again girlfriend and well deserves her crazy nickname.
Other notable performances include Chiwetel Ejiofor as Victor Sweet, a nasty, cruel gang lord who currently owns Detroit's streets, Josh Charles as Detective Fowler the cop who isn't quite who he seems to be and Terrance Howard as Lieutenant Green a straight laced, streetwise cop who has a friend/foe relationship with the family.
All and all Four Brothers is worth your time and money. It's not for the faint of heart or anyone who is adverse to strong language and violence, it is rated R for a reason. But if you're looking for a loud, violent, raucous good time then Four Brothers is for you.
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