Director John Singleton’s (Boyz N The Hood, Shaft) new film Four Brothers (2005) tells the tale of four brothers seeking to find their mother’s killers. These four led by the oldest brother, Bobby Mercer (Mark Wahlberg), take justice into their own hands when there is nowhere to turn to for help. Evelyn Mercer (Fionnula Flanagan, The Others) has helped find foster homes for juveniles for decades, and for the “ four delinquents so far gone she couldn’t find anyone to take them in,” she adopted them herself. Angel (Tyrese Gibson), Jeremiah (Andre Benjamin) and Jack (Garrett Hedlund, Troy, Friday Night Lights) are the other “degenerates” who, although are not society’s best, turn out better under Evelyn’s care and love.
The four brothers come back to Detroit to bury their mother and find peace for their deceased mother and themselves. What looks like a typical revenge drama surprisingly includes a close look at the relationship between these four men who were brought together by a loving woman. These men are very different people, but they share the commonality of a troubled childhood and seemingly lost soul if not for Evelyn’s saving grace.
Four Brothers is an allegory to facing society’s troubles. Crime exists everywhere. But the problem is tackled differently with no concrete solution. Four Brothers suggests that crime should be hit head on at its source. Passivity is not an option.
Most societies are controlled by capitalism - not the government, but money. There is always someone who controls the money - who gets it, who takes it, who earns it. The man who controls Detroit is Victor Sweet. Victor is the typical underworld boss who pays off the government and police to maintain his power over Detroit’s citizens.
Despite many objections by their friends and even each other, the four brothers embark on their quest for justice. Their enemies use guns, and these four brothers don’t hesitate to use guns themselves. Fight fire with fire. It’s the only way to deal with corruption, fear and violence. Violence doesn’t end with the satisfaction of stopping a few hoodlums and criminals. Violence ends with the entire crime organization destroyed.
Article comments
1 - Big Bob D
SUCKED! BORING! STORY SUCKED! DID I MENTION IT SUCKED? DONT WASTE YOUR TIME PLEASE.
2 - steve macleod
i'm writing because of the guy who said it sucked. that guy is the one who quite literlly sucks. He must be a woman because i don't know if it is possible for a "real" man not to love this revenge flick. go watch De lovely fella.
3 - Aliza
This movie was very good. I liked the action even though some of it was a bit unbelievable. Where were the police half the time? Despite that, keep in mind it is a movie, I really enjoyed it. The relationships between the brothers was real. Mark Wahlberg is too fine and so is Terence Howard. The crew of actors was excellent and i would see this movie again.