Customer Reviews

The Brothers McMullen (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There is absolutely no redeeming quality to any of the characters. Zilch. And Burns' relationship to his little hottie he finds is about as believable in real life as an episode of Baywatch; and the dialogue between Burns and his little hottie is as stiff as a board. That about sums it up.

A good movie is one that takes two hours of your time and uses it to teach and inspire you. A decent movie will entertain and amuse. But a bad movie will cause you to check your watch every ten minutes and wonder, how much more of my life will you steal? The Brothers McMullen made me cry when I realized I had only gotten through a third of it. I understand that this movie was made on a low budget and so we can excuse the fact that the characters wear the same shirt in scene 12 that they wore in scene 6, but this film is guilty of being deficient in three key areas: acting, script, and plot. I realize that they didn't have a lot to work with, but I was convinced that at least a few of the actors were reading cue cards throughout the entire movie. This film's only saving grace was the fact that I got it for free at the the video place with my rent ten, get one free card. I can sum up the themes of this movie real quick: don't get married because commitment is scary, move to California if things get too rough, Catholicism is crazy, and finally, beer is your best friend. Don't make the same mistake that I and Mrs. McMullen made. Keep away from The Brothers!

THE BROTHER'S McMULLEN tells the story of three brothers from Long Island New York, who try to come to grips with life, their love life, and what it means to be a family. After their no good excuse for a father dies, their mother decides to leave them, so that she can be with the man she really loves. The oldest brother, Jack (Jack Mulcahy) is married, but is tempted by another woman. Patrick (Mike McGlone) is engaged to be married, but is having second thoughts about taking the plunge. Lastly, Barry (Edward Burns), is fearing he may actually be falling in love Directed by first-timer and former Entertainnent Tonight staffer, Ed Burns, this low budget comedy/drama is very good The film is another example of, what I like to call, "filmmaking on the fly" That's when you don't have a lot of money or time and limited resources yet, somehow, you manage to get the movie done. As a film school graduate, who has made a few small projects, I know a little about what Burns must have gone through, when making this film. He must have done something right though, because not only is the movie fairly "real"in its portrayals, but it won best picture honors at Sundance when it premiered there in 1995.You don't have to be an Irish-Catholic to like the film. It's themes are universal. The script also by Burns, has some funny moments, without being over the top or silly. Shot for "shoestrings and couple of pieces of lint", BROTHERS finds some way to entertain. It's a shame that almost every movie that Burns has made since 1995, plays like a carbon copy of this one. This one is the real thing though and comes recommended

The DVD commentary track from Burns gives a good idea about what was like for him as a first time director Anyone who has made, or wants to make a low budget first film, should listen to this commentary, before or after you do it. The only other "extra" on the disc are a few theatrical trailers **** stars

This is a great movie, that is about all of the good things in life. Friends, family, and of course love. It explores what it is like to be an Irish-Catholic, and how they live their lives. Edward Burns is plays a charming, cynic who no longer believes in love. WHO COULDN'T RELATE TO THAT? Great movie about everything that is good, being Irish, being religious, having great friends family, and lovers. Edward Burns is a very talented man, who stays true to his Irish roots. If your Irish, or are just looking for a charming film, see this movie.

The people who criticise the film for not having a plot or storyline miss the point of this film. We watch the Brothers McMullen struggle with morality and love. It is nice to see a film that deals with love and sex on a deeper level than just love and sex. Edward Burns has a great ear for dialogue, keeping the dialogue real-sounding and never stilted. It's too bad that as a filmmaker, he has not reprised the artistic success he had with this film.

So we were waiting on line at the Embarcadero in 1995 and I had reasonably high hopes - the movie seemed to have good 'buzz' as an unassuming slice-of-life comedy, marking a nice change of pace from the usual cinema offerings: Neither a big-budget assault on the senses nor a pretentious subtitled art film. Irish myself, I was intrigued by the movie's Celtic focus as well. All in all, it looked promising... and then the lights dimmed and the film started.

Man, what a disappointment.

To paraphrase Madame Bovary, I *wanted* to love this movie, but it simply gave me no reason to do so. Ostensibly a comedy, it offered no opportunity for laughs. (Can you remember a single punch line from the film? an arresting comic image? an improbable situation laden with wackiness? Me neither.) Ostensibly a romantic comedy, it offered no romance. (Of the three couples, one is dull, one is dim-witted, and one is downright depressing.) Ostensibly character-driven, it didn't have characters. (The roles range from simple-minded sketches to straight-out stereotypes, including a character "from the garment district" whose presence in a Spike Lee film would have drawn immediate protests from the ADL.) Ostensibly a film, it offered no plot. (What was the dramatic conflict we were watching unfold again?)

And the acting! Trent Lott would be the lively one in this cast of cadavers. I realize that Burns had budget limitations, but come on - you've got to do better than just having 'that guy from the auto shop' playing Brother #3, and you need to do more than just put a coat on a guy and say he's going to play a literary agent. Hey, my mom's not doing anything this weekend, maybe she can be the female lead!

Again, I realize the film had a low budget, but other directors have done much more with much less - c.f. American Movie's Mark Borchardt - and it doesn't cost *anything* to write a decent script.

Ed Burns has often said he wants to be the Irish equivalent of Woody Allen. Well, his films are missing just a few minor elements - wit, dialogue, characters, plotlines, cinematography, originality, depth, and a beginning, middle and end. Once he takes care of those, he'll be fine.

I am a huge fan of romantic comedies, and I have gone on record as saying that "The Brothers McMullen" is my all time favorite. It is the story of three brothers from Long Island struggling to find meaning in their relationships while also dealing with their Catholic faith. It is written and directed by Edward Burns("Saving Private Ryan") who also plays one of the brothers. He does a fabulous job creating a movie that is insightful and entertaining. It only runs for 96 minutes, but I could have watched the story of the McMullen brothers for at least another hour. The DVD is definately one that will be added to my collection come its release in October. When looking for a sweet, character driven love story, there is nothing better then "The Brothers McMullen."

The Brothers McMullen is supposed to be about what it's like having grown up Irish-Catholic in America, which, in the context of this movie, is supposed to be about being sexually repressed. It's an outstanding movie that everyone should see.
The movie is about the relationship of three brothers to the women in their lives and to each other. I must warn you, this is a serious romantic comedy-there's no severed limbs, exploding buildings, or sensational car wrecks. It's a quiet movie with no action. It's also a movie you can watch more than once and still be equally engrossed.

The oldest brother is a high school basketball coach, but, oddly, he's very non-jock like. He's somewhat sensitive and a little thoughtful for crying out loud! And he doesn't drink enough beer for a coach. He is friends with another woman who has the serious hots for him, but he keeps turning her down out of respect for his marriage.

Middle brother was engaged to a Jewish girl, but it broke up due to his own moral and emotional conflicts. Later on, he then picks up an old friendship with the Irish-American girl that grew up next door. She repairs cars in the backyard, drinks beer like the guys and has big hair to remind you she's a girl. I liked her better anyway.

The youngest brother is the most likable. He hasn't been a practicing Catholic since junior high; yet, he considers himself a believer. His charismatic crudeness and way of treating woman remind me of the characters Sean Penn plays, but this guy's got better personality and looks. Both older brothers tell him he drinks too much, but I'd say he drinks just the right amount for his age and station in life! He doesn't seem sexually repressed to me, but his slightly overplayed male bluster and beer drinking might suggest to a shrink that he's keeping his true feelings on ice.

At first glance I thought the McMullen family didn't typify mine--the brothers seem like libertines by comparison! But they call movies and plays drama because they're supposed to dramatize. I think the characters act out things that all of us have thought, felt, wished we'd done, experienced or observed, either consciously or unconsciously. The incongruity of values and lifestyle between the conventional straight-laced oldest brother and the carousing youngest brother was interesting. Unlike most men and unlike most Irish-Catholics, the brothers talk about all their conflicts with each other and their wives and girl friends (Otherwise, there wouldn't be a movie!).

There's some funny, typically Catholic hypocrisy. Middle brother is sleeping with his Jewish girlfriend. When they go looking for an apartment together, he decides they can't live together before marriage because he's Catholic. In another scene, they are in bed together having hank-panky and he tells her they shouldn't be using contraceptives because he's Catholic. Oops. I didn't use the word sex or intercourse. Does that make me sexually repressed?

Apparently, if a woman pursues a man and he's attracted to her, but he chooses to remain faithful to his wife, Hollywood considers that sexually repressed. And if a person is torn between what they've been taught is right and what their passions command, that is considered sexually repressed. I'd call it being a normal human being. I don't think the movie makers were trying to portray the youngest brother as liberated; rather, I think they were trying to portray him as another kind of emotional cripple, but I'm on shaky ground here.

I thought the brothers did O.K. in their relationships to others, but I was a little disappointed that none of the brothers lacked the intellectual depth and sophistication to sort out and resolve their inner conflicts. This is the real tragedy.

Unfortunately, the movie barely touches on the woman's point of view. It would make a great sequel.