Four of a kind: Benjamin, Hedlund, Wahlberg and Gibson

Marky Mark Wahlberg plays the eldest of four adopted brothers whose mother gets killed in the film's opening scene. She's a local saint, their mother, a social worker who's done nothing but good for gazillions of children, including the four hard-knockest, roughest boys she came across who she took in herself. The foursome - rounded out by Andre (3000) Benjamin, who seems to be good at everything he does, Tyrese Gibson and newcomer Garrett Hedlund - are reunited upon her death and quickly decide they must get revenge.

Mom died in a convenience store robbery, you see, but it turns out a gang was behind it all. Among the brothers' foes in this up and down, left and right mad caper of a film are a high school heavy who knows one of the shooters, the two shooters, and then all the way up the gang pyramid to the don, a nasty city councillor and a dirty cop. To call the film action-packed is a pathetically flimsy description; the shooting doesn't stop, and in fact culminates in one of the most bullet-filled house raids ever put on screen. This, at least, is reminiscent of Boyz; that tenor of violence that makes your jaw lock and your eyes water.

Only in Boyz there was a humanitarian moral to the story. That moral is what Singleton has tried to make his signature in every movie since - he's tugged at the heartstrings, pleaded with us in his characteristic broad strokes to come to our senses and be shocked by the state of the world. But his heavy-handedness and lack of subtlety have made him fail time and time again.

Four Brothers doesn't see him add any new shades to his palette (among the brothers we've got the redneck, the ladies' man, the family man and the rock'n'roll weakling - yawn), but it does see Singleton shed the weight of his earnest intentions. Though the brothers' quest is justified slightly by the sanctity of their mother, they're basically on a murderous rampage that doesn't much distinguish them from their victims. The film is replete with the car chases, one-liners, ass-slapping and boisterous banter that constitute the core of action flicks, and boasts as its richest component the incredible chemistry between the four main actors. It's as if they really did grow up giving each other noogies.

Maybe Singleton has found his new voice, then. All you need to make a good action movie is a bit of drama, a whole bunch of stereotypes, some chemistry and a truckload of automatic rifles. Whoever asked for values?

Four Brothers
 
 

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Dog days? Dog-eared!     How did all of the balls-to-the-wall young black filmmakers from the early 90s, who made socially relevant and relentlessly provocative films all end up shooting videos for 50 cent to keep their street cred? Were Boyz in the Hood, New Jack City, Menace II Society, Set It Off, and their godfather, Do the Right Thing, just vehicles to get their directors to the higher levels of Hollywood crap-dom? The Hughes Brothers have split up, F. Gary Gray's become a studio wank, Fuqua can't get any respect for his vision even when he's got Denzel under contract, and Spike Lee's so high on his own pretension that he won't spare us a toke from his own joints anymore. There is something wrong with the system when so many promising African-American fillmakers, who began their careers as a seismic phenomenon, have to rely on hamfisted storylines and hails of bullets to even tap the pulse of the nation. The premeditated slaughter of dozens to avenge the murder of one mother? Cheap dick jokes with his leading man on the potty by a director who once had vision? Singleton cackling with glee over some inane dialogue in that interview in Premiere magazine? This flick may be bottom-feeder entertainment for the dog days of August, but this viewer wonders when we'll once again be treated to a film that cuts straight to the bone.
Virginia Modugno	{10 votes}	August 24th, 2005
The low down on the shakedown.     Yes: in his catalogue of filmmaking, john singleton has two defining moments - Boyz' n da hood and the fast and 2 fast 2 furious. The former was created by a man who had a story to tell to those willing to listen. to listen about the crimes that blacks were doing (and still doing..) to one another. the genocide of a people for the green and street creed, to pop a cap in that boy's dome to be da man. it was 1991, before black culture was co-opted to become the darling of musick industry. before 'p. diddy' would drop the 'p', and before rap would blow-up to become the 'thang'... Blacks were killing blacks under the twelve year march of ronald reagan and george senior. ice cube was da man, hating hollywood for dissing brothas and sistas, and rap was telling more than scoring some ho's and bee-tyches because you had the greens of dead presidents. blacks needed to wake up, and boyz' n da hood was there. like spike lee at his best: sending the call to every and all ears willing to hear the noize... 2 fast 2 furious. the year now 2003. twelve years removed from boyz' n da hood, with some misses in between (poetic justice, shaft, higher learning, baby boy, rosewood), the franchise started with the fast and the furious with vin diesel and director rob cohen was in danger of losing itself when vin and rob passed on the sequel. enter john and tyrese gibson to save the day. however, 2 fast 2 furious was the death knell of a one-hit franchise fueled by a then 'hot' vin diesel before he slide into 'family' movies, a la the pacifier. Now comes four brothers. the great directors - lynch, scorsese, cronenberg, tarantino, hitchcock, welles, leone, ford - wear their obsessions proudly. and while he was hailed as being 'the next orson welles', the 'critics' forgot that welles in his times wasn't appreciated, let alone admired. at best then, john singleton's four brothers continues to show a director who still has a few more stories to tell as he sits in his easy chair.
Gary Womac	{76 votes}	August 18th, 2005
Dissapointing...     I was expecting something really great to come out of this given that I loved Boyz N Da Hood. However I was left pretty dissapointed, the story is hard to believe and the action is not as dynamic, i felt the pacing was completely off as the story tried to juggle 4 major charcters without really going deeply anywhere. However as a straight action video to watch on a friday night you can't go wrong. Just don't go in expecting more then that.
S N		January 7th, 2006
Film Review 101/Four Brothers     One good movie does not a comeback make. Sorry but it just doesn't. John Singleton's career can best be summed up in 2 parts: his classic "Boyz 'n the Hood" and everything else that followed "Boyz 'n the Hood". He's had a few good movies since then but nothing on the same level. Ditto for this one. "Four Brothers" is probably the best thing he's commited to film in a long time but for people to fall all over themselves on this one picture as his great comeback is rather sad. Can't tell if he's not being offered the good projects or if he's too self-conscious since being labeled as the new 'it' boy in Hollywood all the way in the early 90's but you definitely get a sense that the boy spooked somehow because there's a very palpable vibe that he's been holding back ever since. <> True, the actors have a blast with the material and as vengeance flicks go this is pretty darn tight but at best this is just a very solid piece of work and nothing quite like the urban masterpiece that launched Singleton's career.
Pedro Eggers	{5 votes}	August 30th, 2005
John Singleton is Back.     I feel the whole movie was an incredible story of how family could stick together in the toughest of all times. Their mother in the beginning of the movie was shot in a grocery robbery, and the four brothers got together to find out who the killer was, and all in all i believe they did that for the community as well, because their mother was a rolemodel in the community of Detroit. But i believe the whole thing was just not about showing non-stop action and gunfights for the director, John Singleton, it was showing like in the movie Boyz in the Hood, that family has to stick together to achieve a common goal, that is why he named the film Four Brothers, i would imagine. As for the point in the article, where the writer comments on the fact that Fast and the Furious bombed as movies, i dont agree. I believe they are two different kinds of movies. One deals with car chases, and police going undercover to find criminal activities. While Four brothers deal with family issues, and how one family can overcome such tradegy and live through it sucessfully. I think all the actors and director did an excellent job portraying that to the audience, and i felt it was an amazing film, and i encourage everyone to go see it.
Erin Androulakis	{6 votes}	August 24th, 2005
Hunky Hunk(s)!     If you haven't seen the movie, well what are you waiting for! This is a movie that has it all: action, drama and laughs. All right, it's not a movie that you can just sit back and relax because you've got to listen to the dialog in order to get the good parts to laugh. Plus, seeing four guys get tough and emotional is just amazing; they are just so cute! Over all, it doesn't come down to cuteness but to the whole plot of the movie, which is heart touching. Go see it now! I mean it, no regrets.
Sabina Gergel	{12 votes}	August 22nd, 2005
Family Dynamics or Dynamite Family     Every Mother should have sons such as these and every family should have such family dynamics as portrayed here. A Mother who can push the points without destroying communication pathways which are demonstrated amazingly well in the opening sequence and brothers who can be rough and tough and honest with each other while still questioning what length each other will go to, knowing full well if pushed, limits can exceed and go across boundaries their Mother never wished them to cross. And a Mother who is willing to take the risk along with her sons when she sees an injustice done upon one of her sons. This story doesn't compel me to believe family dynamics are fading away into oblivion but shows me 'true' family dynamics exist where we least expect them. Would you want your son(s) to investigate an injustice done to you at the risk of his own life if it meant effecting a change which could possibly stop it from happening to another individual such as yourself? And would you accept a son who you knew was capable of crossing over boundaries set in place by society, and provide him the foundation to know he is capable of making the appropriate choices not knowing for sure if he will follow what he was taught once he is out on his own? Would you still love him anyway? I believe in these times too many have misjudged the importance of living and too often watch on the sidelines asking what happened. This story not only shows that family exists where no blood resides and people must stop sitting upon the sidelines and take action against grievances whether it is connected to public figures or mobs or even understanding if a brother has been pushed to do something he wouldn't normally do. This story asks one question: what lengths are you willing to go to if an injustice is done to you or your sons?
Patti Baer	{6 votes}	August 22nd, 2005
Four Brothers...Four thumbs up     The movie was great, it was as i expected! The performances played by all four actors was awsome and of course mark walberg's acting - great! The storyline wasn't too bad, the action scenes made up for any lack of storyline. It was pretty much of a story of revenge on their mothers killer, nothing spectacular but the action and how they found the killer, good! The past summer has been pretty weak as far as movies that came out, but i think this one perked it up a lil :)
Andrea Lowry	{3 votes}	August 22nd, 2005
80's style revenge pic     I wasn't that excited to see this movie. It looked good, but it didn't look like anything special. I saw it yesterday, and ended up loving it! This is a revenge movie. It is about getting even, and making people pay. There is no deep moral message. There aren't any jaw dropping twists. It is just about watching the bad guys get what they deserve! The acting is better than average. Marky Mark is amazing, and very believable and he could carry the movie by himself. Thankfully he doesn't have to, as this movie also boasts a great supporting cast. If you want some great summer fun, and you don't want to think too much, check this out!!!
Eric Wilson	{8 votes}	August 21st, 2005
Knockout Film     Four Brothers is one of the most entertaining films of 2005. This year there has not been to many good films that have been released in theatres. Director John Singleton who made the 1991 cult classic film "Boyz In The Hood" has been in a slump and the last good film that he has made was the 1997 film "Rosewood." I have been a John Singleton fan for a very long time and he is the youngest filmmaker ever to be nominated for an Oscar. The story is about four orphan brothers who seek out to find the people involved in killing their foster mother. Mark Whalberg plays the leader of the four brothers who organizes on how to find the culprits responsible for their mom's death. This film is possibly the best performance ever given by Mark Whalberg and he is very lucky that he quit the music business to peruse his acting carrier. You don't want to miss out on Four Brothers.
Carmela Sicurella	{6 votes}	August 21st, 2005
Since when is so much love filled with hate?     I was quite worried that this would be on of those movies were all the action scenes were in the trailer and that the rest of the movie is dull and boring. I Was Wrong! What fantastic, thrilling, non-stop action fun. Four Brothers is one of the most thought out and great films I've seen in a long time. My favourite part of the movie was the plot. I was getting tired of the same old stories about the same old things. This on the other hand was very original and genius. I've never seen a movie with this sort of plot and that makes it have the spark everybody wants. The idea of four brothers coming back to avenge their "mothers" death is spectacular. Four different boys from different backgrounds grow up together to become a family. They unite to bring down their mothers killer. Unfortunate things happen that just lead to more tears and bloodshed. The acting performances were terrific and very well played. All four of the gentleman in the film suited they're role perfectly and filled it out to the fullest. John Singleton was great as the brother who has his eye on everybody including his girlfriend, and she doesn't seem to stop battling it out Marky Mark Wahlberg during the entire film. Garrett Hedlund is a newcomer in the film business but does a terrific job as the youngest of the brothers. He has the flair of emotion just like all the other brothers but he also posses a hint of innocence when it comes to seeing his older brother's shoot up two killers. Tyrese Gibson does a fantastic job as well as the more political brother who gets in trouble with the bad guys. I also like the fact that in the end money can change anyone. It can corrupt people or drive people to the other side. One moment your by your best friend and then next you across from him with your enemy because of some extra cash. At the end of four brothers money is exactly what brings down "the killer." A fantastic and well directed movie filled with action from beginning to end.
Michael D'Ornellas	{6 votes}	August 21st, 2005
Take it for what it is     I tend to agree with the writer of this article about John Singleton "shedding the weight of his earnest intentions" with this movie. I haven't seen Boyz n da Hood yet, but from what I read here it's a film that deals with some heavy issues. Four Brothers is pure action, although there is great chemistry between the "brothers" and the family bond does come across as believable. But to say that this was a gripping drama with a moral - no. Not to mention the many loopholes at every turn... To enjoy this movie, you really gotta take it for what it is. It's very well made and 100% entertainment.
Ruth Nissan	{8 votes}	August 20th, 2005
The movie makes no sense, but hey it was enjoyable     Four Brothers was an entertaining movie. It wasn't as hard hitting and poetic as John Singleton's earlier films which is understandable. As any director who gets more famous, they tend to make more commercial films. However Four Brothers is a close as you can get to an artistic action flick. How is this an artistic flick among the guns, sexual innuendo, one liners and car chases on black ice? This movie is a great character study. While each one has a preset character and plays that part to the bone without growing, it is what makes the movie works, that's because, that's how brothers are. If you grew up with just guys in the family you would understand, we were always at a constant struggle to show who was cooler with our own characteristics. With Mark Whalberg's Bobby it was the tough guy, with the beatings, the hot-headnessness, even playing the toughest sport known to man: hockey. All others as stated in the article have their own image that makes them cool to each other: the rock star, the ladies man, the family man... And because this is how brothers are in real life we connect somewhat with the Mercer kids (thugs). This is why we believe they can be a family despite being adopted. Which comes to the second part of the movie: Family comes first. And it don't matter who you call your family as long as they care for each other. Each Mercer brother may pick on one another but in the end should any of them be threatened; they will have to face the entire pack and not just one. Just like a real family, we stick together. I defend my brother whether he's older or not. Four Brothers is a great movie. The storyline and the logic of what goes on in the film is sorta lacking, but the characters make up for anything lacking in that department. The chemistry works so well that the movie becomes enjoyable. And in the movies this is a welcome change to the usual stuff churned out.
Alexander Yu	{18 votes}	August 18th, 2005
Four Brothers: Funny, but it's still missing something...     I went into the theatre with really low expectations and was surprised to see that this movie was actually better than i had hoped. Seeing the previews, I kept saying to myself, oh it's another gang movie....but as I was watching it, I was actually quite entertained by it all. I really liked all the characters portrayed except maybe one: the youngest of the four brothers. The only reason why I didn't like his character too much is because I found that with the very short time he had on-screen, he really didn't give us much to like or to get into. I found him to be quite empty compared to the three others. For example, I thought that Mark Wahlberg was the tough one of the bunch, Andre Benjamin was the wiser, more mature of the bunch and of course there has to be a ladies man right, so in comes Gibson to fit that role. I really liked the actress who played the adoptive mother who got murdered, she was really well cast. I didn't find that the scene in the bathroom where Walhberg was balling his eyes out to be corny at all,. I mean i'm assuming that the only reason he didn't do it in front of others is because he's known as the tough guy, who always keeps his cool no matter what. In fact, I found that scene to be touching. I really liked the actor who played the bad guy in the movie cause he really did make us hate him. The twist at the end was great and the actor who played the bad cop really irritated me, which means he played his role well. All in all, I laughed, didn't cry, and on top of it all, my expectations were exceeded.
Maria Victoria Taeza	{13 votes}	August 18th, 2005
Revival? I wouldn't call it that     Personally, I went to see this movie, and after seeing Boyz n da hood from john singleton back in the day, this movie wasn't really a revival to his career. Well, maybe something like a mini-revival. This movie was a bit on the cheesy side in my eyes. I found the start of it really crap. They seemed so amateur. As soon as the action picked up, it was good. Things started to roll a little quicker and i didn't have to sit thru the cheesy acting from these guys. A decent movie, but nothing compared to BOyz n da hood.
Meghna Patel	{13 votes}	August 18th, 2005
Don't Compare Singleton's 'Films' to his 'Movies'.     What should be considered, with regards to John Singleton, is that he made both films and movies. I would not compare social commentaries like Boyz In Tha Hood and Poetic Justice with movies like 2 Fast 2 Furious and Four Brothers. He is allowed to make action and light drama movies without being open to comparison between the two types. Charlie Chaplin made funny and stupid comedy shorts, but also made Modern Times (arguably one of the best 'films' ever made). I'd hate for someone to compare Modern Times to any of his comedy shorts. Singleton may eventually go back to making 'films' and they may be critically successful, but for now, he's making 'movies'.
Giovanni Paquin	{9 votes}	August 18th, 2005
Brothers till the end     I went to the premiere last week and I had mixed feeling about going because Singleton has had a difficult time replicating the success of Boyz in the Hood but to my suprise this movie was good. Not in the same way Boyz in the Hood was but for an action/ drama it really got you involved. Mark Wahlberg has come a long way from his days as Marky Mark and now that he has left that behind, he has proven to be a great actor. He plays the oldest of the brothers and he commands the screen in all his scenes. Andree 3000 from Outkast does quite a decent job and shows that he can do a crossover from singing to acting. The movie has a lot of action and shooting up of bad guys. If you like the sound of guns being blasted then this is the movie for you.
Selena Lobo	{13 votes}	August 18th, 2005
Four Brothers     My daughter and I decided to watch this movie on the weekend and I feel what a stupid movie. First of all, the four caring brothers were greedy, did they really love their mother, I dont think that they did. After the funeral, they went to see what she had left them and it did not look like a caring family. The other thing is that I knew what was going to happen before it happenned. They were going to revenge her death. We watched up to the part where they are getting ready to revenge her death and then said what a bunch of crap, a typical movie. Someone you love dies, you dont let the police deal with you, you take it out on your own. We hated it.
Louise Lacroix		October 27th, 2005
Mark Whalberg     I don't really enjoy Marky Mark as an actor (or a singer for that matter) but in this movie I enjoyed his acting. It's a movie worth seeing thanks to his performance ( never tought I'd say that one day!!).
Brian Fung	{1 vote}	October 5th, 2005
four brothers four stars ?     for some reason singleton is known for great movies ... WHY ?? I think each actor in this movies is great but on its own ... not together and when they say Andre 3ooo is great at everything I think its true true true. I dont suggest going to pay 10$ for a smelly theater. If we were in germany and could drink beer .... maybe I would go and see it then.
Nathalie Verbruggen		August 23rd, 2005

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