Four Brothers follows the four adopted Mercer brothers--Bobby (Mark Wahlberg), Jeremiah (André Benjamin), Angel (Tyrese Gibson) and Jack (Garrett Hedlund)--when they are forced to come back to Detroit after the murder of their mother. While the four have not seen each other in some time, their bond is stronger than ever, and their resolve measures even stronger. The four brothers will spend their time together making sure that the person that destroyed their family pays for their mistake.
Writers David Elliot and Paul Lovett created a story where love ran deep and revenge was inevitable. The two writers created an alluring balance of intensity and comedy. Every scene was full of emotion, heartbreak, violence and death. Humor was needed to help balance the film and lighten the mood when things were getting too heavy. In times of crisis Wahlberg and Gibson were able to create some levity and keep the story flowing rather than push audiences over the edge. This perfect balance could not have been achieved if it was not for the out of this world performances of the four leads. Benjamin, Gibson and Wahlberg all looked the part and did a wonderful job of playing badass brothers who refuse to take guff from anyone. Hedlund is the runt of the litter, and he does not necessarily look the part. However, his ability to connect with the other actors and portray the young, somewhat unassuming brother was touching and compelling. The constant use of extreme close-ups captured the pure and heart-wrenching emotion on the faces of the actors. Together, the four actors created a bond that connected with audiences and drew on their emotions.
Like the tone of the film, the pacing and the overall substance was done phenomenally. The dialogue, the action and the brotherhood create one cohesive story that flows at a smooth and effective pace. Audiences never feel lost and they never feel uncomfortable with the progress of the story. Most films have down time as a means to balance the rest of the story, however, Lovett, Elliot and director John Singleton managed to continuously build the story and the characters, leaving audiences wanting more and never feeling complacent with what was taking place.
Singleton, Elliot and Lovett (with the help of the four incredibly talented leads--and Terrance Howard), built a complete and wholesome (in terms of the characters’ motives) story that touched audiences and allowed them to feel the emotion pouring off the screen. Viewers were engulfed in a strong sense of camaraderie and felt the connection that the four brothers would have throughout the film. The cast and crew created a solid and perfectly functional bond that helped to reach audiences. This compelling and tragic story of family was one of a kind and a charming display of art.
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