Hey there folks, Harry here with our UK spy taking a look at a film called BROTHERS... and man oh man, our spy did not like this movie one bit. He likens it to KEVIN AND PERRY GO LARGE, which... dear god, I've heard descriptions that will just make limbs fall off and talk. P... U... Anyways... this is just one person's take, so remember... The only opinion that counts... is your own. Having said that, this fella said the mule kicked him. You gonna stand behind it? "Feeling lucky punk?"
Hi Harry,
I was lucky enough to get tickets for last night's premiere of "Brothers" a little independent brit flick (£1.8million/$3.6million budget) about seven friends on holiday on a Greek Island. I don't know if it'll get a US release but this might be of interest to your British readers.
Brothers is unlucky in that it's going to follow the summer holiday movie Kevin and Perry Go Large into the screens, and the two are so similar they could be er... related. And unfortunately, it isn't going to be any kind of major competition to the Burke/Enfield flick. First-time director and writer Martin Dunkerton has done well to get the film on the screen - it's taken him five years - but unfortunately it's not going to be of interest to anyone who isn't one of his drinking mates.
The film opens by introducing its seven male leads. A few problems here: there are too many male leads, and they're referred to by nicknames as well as their real names, which makes it a nightmare keeping track of who's being talked about unless they're on screen. The introduction to the characters doesn't differentiate them enough or make you like them - a bad move in such a talkative movie. As for sheer volume of characters, it makes life much harder for the film maker- at one point, one character disappears for a day and a half in what you suspect might be suicide or a fatal accident, but it turns out he's fine, he's just been edited out, or not written in in the first place. If they'd condensed three of the less interesting characters into one, it would have helped immeasurably.
They could also have lost the first three of the seven days that the film happens over. It does nothing but set them up on the island and introduce the idea of debauchery and hedonism - not particularly well, as it happens: Ibiza Uncovered (a TV documentary) does it much better - and some gratuitous tits and weird sex. After that, some things happen, but not enough to actually be described as a plot. More shagging, some fights, a nervous breakdown but mainly lots and lots of expository toss about predestination, spirituality and the future. It feels like the film is trying to go for a Kevin Smith-type feel of wordy dialogue and fart jokes, but in this case it really doesn't gel, it just gets more and more irritating to have the action broken for some philosophising.
Ultimately the origin of the film comes across way too clearly when the two actual brothers in the party go for a drive and- hooray- some philosophy. One of them's a failing writer and his brother advises him to do something more commercial - "Like write about this holiday" And lo and behold, the press pack explains that the film was inspired by a holiday had by the Dunkerton brothers. So it boils down to a vanity film, all told.
It's sad. I'd love to be able to say there's potential or glimpses of genius, but the truth is it's indulgently written and directed, and badly edited - despite costing twice as much as Lock, Stock, it doesn't display a tenth of the style or wit. Kudos to Martin Dunkerton for having the balls to stick with a project for five years, but to be perfectly honest he's clearly a better producer than writer/director.
Sorry to be so negative with my first scoop, Harry. I'll try to find some better news for my next one.
Cheers,
The Unknown Anorak
Fish don't feel pain. So why not hammer some to death today?
