Film Reviews

Four Brothers

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Directed: John Singleton.

Four brothers are re-united for the first time in years for the funeral of their adoptive mother (Finnoula Flanagan), brutally slain in a grocery hold-up. Quickly dismissing the 'wrong place, wrong time' theory offered by the police, the Mercer 'brothers' - quick-tempered boxer Bobby (Wahlberg), soldier Angel Gibson), businessman Jeremiah (Benjamin) and would-be rocker Jake (Hedlund)- decide to take the investigation into their own hands. With gangsters, bent cops and dirty politicians standing in their way, can the brothers uncover the answer to their questions: Who shot their mother and why? Singleton once again steers a steady ship through America's gritty backstreets, taking the action to a cold and desolate Detroit but this time the acclaimed director consciously avoids the hip-hop stereotypes and instead gives the film a 70's blaxploitation feel, especially to well dressed gangster Victor Sweet (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the soundtrack of silky smooth '70s soul that backs him up. What's most impressive about Four Brothers is the way the main cast members bounce off each other like real brothers, with Andre Benjamin (Outcast's Andre 3000) in particular showing why he is fast becoming an actor in demand. Where it all falls short is the plot, which can get a little silly at times as the quartet chase their leads across the city, and Josh Charles tries too hard as the tough talking detective Fowler.

Review by Declan Burke