While on tour in Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Back home, it is his screw-up brother who looks after the family. Sam does return, but with a lot of exce... Read allWhile on tour in Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Back home, it is his screw-up brother who looks after the family. Sam does return, but with a lot of excess baggage.While on tour in Afghanistan, Sam's helicopter is shot down and he is presumed dead. Back home, it is his screw-up brother who looks after the family. Sam does return, but with a lot of excess baggage.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 16 nominations
- Private Joe Willis
- (as Patrick Flueger)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJake Gyllenhaal learned of the death of his close friend Heath Ledger while he was in the middle of shooting a scene for this film. Gyllenhaal immediately walked off set, and returned to finish the scene two days later. He then took a longer bereavement leave before he was ready to continue with the rest of his scenes.
- GoofsThe movie gives the location of the Marine Base as "Fort Mahlus". Only the US Army begins their bases with "Fort" (i.e. Fort Benning, Fort Bragg, etc). The US Marines begin their bases with "Camp" (i.e. Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune, etc).
- Quotes
Sam Cahill: You know what I did to fucking get back to you?
Grace Cahill: No.
Sam Cahill: You fucking bitch! You know how he fucking suffered? He fucking suffered because of you! And what have you done to my fucking house and my fucking kids, Grace? You are fucking my brother!
Grace Cahill: Sam, you know I didn't.
Sam Cahill: You are fucking my brother in my fucking house!
- ConnectionsFeatured in Late Show with David Letterman: Episode #17.52 (2009)
- SoundtracksRocky Mountain Man
Written by David Manzanares
Performed by David James
Published and Recorded by David Manzanares (BMI)
This film is apparently a remake of a Danish film that had the same story line.
But it didn't have Tobey Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal! Maguire reaches into the darkest corners of his soul to flesh out the good brother, the Marine, who returns from Afghanistan with a staggering burden of guilt.
Gyllenhaal is amazing, transforming an angry, unsure ex-con into a believable figure of redemption, slowly growing before our eyes as the story unfolds.
Natalie Portman is excellent and look for Carey Mulligan's four minutes of screen time.
This is not an anti-war film except in the sense that any film that shows war either glorifies it unrealistically or jars us into questioning, if it is realistic. The scenes in Afghanistan seem authentic. The tortures are not so so graphic as some of the other reviews imply. They will cause you to wince, but its good film making, not microscopic detail.
I want to search out Susanne Bier's 2005 film "Broedre"--it can't lessen the impact of this one, however.
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $26,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $28,544,157
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $9,527,848
- Dec 6, 2009
- Gross worldwide
- $43,474,578
- Runtime1 hour 45 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1