August 13, 2005 -- “Four Brothers” is a hot revenge story set on Detroit's mean streets in the coldest part of winter. Although the story is filled with torture, murder, revenge, corruption and despair, there is also a lot of humor and a genuine sense of love among the multi-racial brothers in this odd family. On the surface, this is a story about revenge. Underneath, it is a tale about survival in a once-proud part of the city where the American Dream has turned to ashes and where the only justice is that dispensed by vigilantes.

Mark Wahlberg of “The Italian Job” stars as Bobby Mercer, oldest of the four brothers returning home to Detroit to attend his mother's funeral. He is joined by his brother Angel (played by Tyrese Gibson of “Flight of the Phoenix”), brother Jeremiah (André 3000 of “Be Cool”) and brother Jack (Garrett Hedlund of “Friday Night Lights”). The four are adopted sons of Evelyn Mercer (Fionnula Flanagan of “Tears of the Sun”), a kind woman who saved them from a life of crime and gave them a chance at a better life. Bobby has no faith that the cops will find the killers and is determined to have his own brand of justice. The other brothers are gradually convinced the cops are on the wrong track and that there is more going on with their mother's death than a simple robbery gone bad. They agree that the killers must be found by any means necessary.

The film succeeds mainly because the script has good dialogue and the principle actors form a believable bond. The film has a gritty, authentic feel and look to it, with a great classic Motown soundtrack. Director John Singleton (“2 Fast 2 Furious”) uses some effective fantasy sequences and flashback scenes to show how the brothers felt about their mother and how she changed them. The script also allows the four main actors to interact in a believable way. They don't just bond, they bicker, they fight, they argue and they make up. Wahlberg is especially good. He doesn't look like an actor trying to look tough. He really looks like he can handle himself on these streets.

The script also does a good job of establishing the main characters, especially Bobby, Angel and Jeremiah. The story also goes against the usual Hollywood stereotype in that the white guys are not the smartest people in the group. They don't figure it all out and tell everyone else what to do. The smartest guys in the group are the black characters, and they have just as much say in the family's decisions as anyone else.

There are problems with the story. First of all, it isn't believable. It requires a huge suspension of disbelief. The story also contains an elaborate conspiracy that collapses under the weight of its own complexity. It seems to me that the appeal of this story is not what it is about, but how these appealing characters manage to draw the audience along for the ride. A large number of critics have noted that this movie is very similar to the 1965 John Wayne western, “The Sons of Katie Elder,” and the Charles Bronson “Death Wish” movies and the “Dirty Harry” movies. Like those films, “Four Brothers” taps into the old idea that if the law doesn't give you justice, you can get it yourself.

The movie is actually more subversive than that. One of its characters, Jeremiah Mercer, is a former union organizer. He and another former union man come up with a unique solution to the Mercer family's predicament. The union reference is a not-so-thinly veiled reference to the fact that union membership in America is a fraction of what it once was and that manufacturing jobs, in Detroit and all across the country, are a fraction of what they once were. A number of characters in the film have pursued the American dream and it has turned into a nightmare. Jeremiah pursued a real estate deal, but it was plundered by corrupt city officials. Bobby is an ex-prize fighter who ended up broke. Jack is a musician who never hit the big time. Others in the film had high-paying manufacturing jobs but were axed. Living in economic, political and justice systems that give all power to the rich.

The four Mercer brother's desperate action is a last ditch effort to achieve a small measure of justice and dignity. They pay a very high price for their small victory. The film's upbeat ending obscures the film's darker themes. The American Dream is what Evelyn Mercer believed in. Her disillusioned sons don't share that faith. Evelyn's lessons of love and understanding are turned into hate and revenge. This is not a simple revenge film. It is also a reminder that America in the new millenium is far more cruel than the America of the 20th century. This film rates a B.

John Singleton is one of the best directors in Hollywood, but some of his best films, “Rosewood” and “Baby Boy,” for instance, have not been seen by many people. That is because many films starring black actors are poorly distributed, especially in predominantly white parts of the country. In this film, Singleton has made an essentially black film, but since Mark Wahlberg, a white actor, is the star, it got a much wider distribution, at 2,000 theaters nationally. Another black film, “Hustle and Flow” (produced by Singleton), opened in only half as many theaters nationally because of its mostly black cast. Singleton is essentially an independent filmmaker who also makes mainstream films. Because of this, he is considered a traitor by elitist critics who lionize independent filmmakers like Jim Jarmusch, who refuse to deal with Hollywood. Jarmusch can get away with this because he gets his financing from Europe. Jarmusch gets European backing because he makes films that are like European films. Singleton makes American-looking films. Singleton uses the money he makes from mainstream films to finance independent projects like the critically-acclaimed “Hustle and Flow.” Don't knock it if it works.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in video and/or DVD format, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2005 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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