The Sisters Brothers review – Mr T’s take
Review: If you’re tired of pretentious Westerns trying to imitate the work of Sergio Leone, then I have good news for you. The Sisters Brothers isn’t one of those. Instead, it’s centred around two brothers, Charlie and Eli, essayed by the talented character actors Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly, both contract killers.
The film chronicles the brothers’ journey in 1851 to San Francisco as they are out to track a chemist, played by Riz Ahmed, aided by their associate John, portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal. Phoenix and Reilly bring their conflict to life, and the audience does empathise with the gentle Eli as he aids his brother’s misdeeds, despite his misgivings. One common theme unifying the characters is the relationship they have with their fathers, and how it dictates the choices they make in their lives.
Now this being a Western, sure, there’s a lot of bloodshed, but the movie is much more than that, and it eschews genre tropes and serves up a commentary on greed, friendship and family. My rating is 3.5/5.
Who should watch this: If you like dramas or Western films with a story, go ahead and watch this. Also check out True Grit, Brokeback Mountain, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, Hell or High Water and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.