I know I said I wasn’t going to do this anymore but c’est la vie. Along came a beautiful film and I just had to write about it.
There are so few beautiful films these days. Or, perhaps it’s just me.
Perhaps if I was, say, ten years younger I would write something like, What a privilege it is to be alive in the cinema world of 2019! And what a beautiful cinema world it is!
Maybe…Anything is possible.
Now keep in mind that I used the word beautiful as opposed to the word good. I could have used the word good, but that would be a different debate-one that I’m not prepared to have.
Anyway, if you’ve seen The Sisters Brothers, you might be disconcertingly meh about it. Sure…That could happen…Or, you may just not like it.
You may find the film ostentatiously strange. Or overwrought in length and plot. Or both.
But one thing for sure: You will think it’s beautiful. If you appreciate cinematography.
In fact, it may be too beautiful–like much of the late 60s television series photography that mimicked the musicals of the technicolor film era. Pretty boy beautiful, like George Hamilton was.
(For those of you who don’t know who George Hamilton is, here’s a more contemporary reference:) Like Justin Bieber was.
Cinematographer Benoit Debie filmed The Sisters Brothers in 35 mm. He mimicked the color palate of the Godfather II (1974), the last film filmed in classic technicolor. Like Godfather II, the core colors of the film are warm, black to varying hues of brown and gold. But Debie doesn’t stop there. He channels inspiration from Sam Peckinpah’s, Ride the High Country (1962) and–dare I say–Victor Fleming’s mother of all technicolor films, The Wizard of Oz (1939).
To be fair, Debie always shoots in 35 mm. And it shows. Lushness is a Debie trademark and he goes bonkers with it in The Sisters Brothers. That is, when he is shooting a surrealistic sequence. Otherwise he sticks with his core colors with and an occasional pop of technicolor inspired red, or blue and the sudden swoosh of white.
The Sisters Brothers is a film about waking up in a nightmare that happens to be life. That’s the reality that Eli Sisters (John C. Reilly) finds himself in when he assumes the lifelong responsibility of looking out for his younger brother Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix). Eli bears the cross of guilt.
When the boys were teenagers Charlie shot and killed their abusive, sadist father. Eli, the gentler, mentally healthier brother, couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger and–in his eyes–since he was older, his father’s killing was supposed to be on him.
Consequently, the Brothers Sisters had to go on the run. Somewhere along the way they became hit men for a wealthy land baron that goes by the title “the Commodore” (Rutger Hauer). That’s all he goes by. He doesn’t admit to a real name.
To add insult to Eli’s plight, the bothers found themselves in a “Boy Named Sue” situation and they had to be even meaner hit men than they would have been without the family moniker. Again, Charlie leads the way and Eli follows him.
Charlie likes his work. Eli does not. Both are very good at what they do, but Eli is better. That’s because Charlie often lets his impulsivity and immaturity get the best of him, though he’s definitely the more creative one.
Eli is an efficient, robot-like killer. He also pines over a shawl. He folds it obsessively when he thinks Charlie is asleep. It is the shawl of, probably, the only woman Eli has ever kissed. He fantasizes about having a family with her.
The Commodore sends Eli and Charlie after an idealistic, docile, totally zen chemist (Riz Ahmed) who has invented a formula that, when mixed with water, illuminates gold to a florescent green so that it can be fished out of rivers and streams nocturnally. The plan is to intercept the chemist and his Marshall handler (Jake Gyllenhaal), who also happens to be on the Commodore’s payroll. The Marshall will, ostensibly, hand over the thoroughly duped chemist to the Sisters brothers who, in turn, will torture the chemist until he spills the beans, his guts and the formula. Then they will dispose of the chemist.
But the plan is fraught with unforeseen obstacles, as plans usually are–as they especially are–in movies. There are bushwhackers who have got wind of the formula too. There’s the Marshall–a rouge romantic, dabbling in poetry and spewing flowery language–who grows enamored with his quarry’s intellect and humanity and decides to form a partnership with the chemist instead of supervising his demise. The Marshall is also very good with a gun.
And, then, there are the brother’s themselves. How long can Eli keep Charlie on the rails of sanity before the latter drags the former into hell? Is there one iota of hope for them?
Assuredly there is much screwball bungling and tongue-in-cheek hi-jinx mixed with two bothers just screwing around. Hence the comedy.
So what of the Revisionist Western thing? How so?
Well, violence–that old stalwart of the Western formula–is not the point of The Sisters Brothers, though it does have a strong presence in it. You may even say it is the tip of the spear. The foray, however, is in the psychology of the brotherly bond.
It doesn’t get more Revisionist than that.
Be that as it may, you might not click with The Sisters Brothers. But you can’t hate it either.
You can’t hate it because it’s beautiful. Watch it a second time and you will like it more.
Pam,
Wonderful to hear from you again. I hope all is well with you. Grace and peace to you…
dw
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Thank you DW. Things are good. I hope they are for you as well. God’s blessings.
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Oh thank God……Paladin kept on asking me “Where is Pam”? and I was running out of answers…..I had “The Grinch kidnapped her” ready for today.
I’m on the fence with The Sister Brothers,I think the name is just a shade too much pf a attention grabber where as the story should have that role. Might have to wait until I can find a good used copy. But I’m glad you enjoyed it!
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I don’t disagree. Have you seen it, though? There’s a lot of story there. I think you’d like it if you haven’t. And of course their name plays prominently in the story.
You know, I haven’t forgotten about the package I’m suppose to send you, Michael. I will get it in the mail. Sorry I’m such a procrastinator.
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No worries here,I’m sure you are busy with life.
Very grateful for any socks we get…I think I’ll pick up the Sisters Brothers when my video store has its Easter sale soon….
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Good. Let me know what you think. I think you’ll like it. It is a unique film. It’s uniqueness lies in its balancing of the conventional and the unconventional. It’s a very bi-partisan film. And then there’s Joaquin Phoenix…
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Joaquin is a interesting actor….he definitely went sideways after his brother overdosed. I have actually very few of his films,the one standout for me is “8MM” which is my favorite Nicolas Cage film as well. I will defintely give this one a peek.
But I ain’t watching that Joker,that looks like a pile of cheetah poo……
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Uhmm….Nicolas Cage has a lot of horrible films, but I can’t think of a horrible Joaquin Phoenix film off the top of my head. There are some films that he’s in that I don’t like– like Inherent Vice. I want to like it, but I don’t. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad film though.
He’s a weird actor. No doubt. But I like his vibe and he has skills.
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I saw a great review of this on TV. I am seduced by the 35mm, and the cast. I doubt I will get to see it at the cinema though, as the nearest decent one is a troublesome mission to get to.
I am reminded of ‘There Will Be Blood’. So many people hated that film, but I adore it. Because it is ‘photographed’.
Best wishes, and welcome back. 🙂
Pete.
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Yes, there are similarities to There Will Be Blood. A few. There Will Be Blood is the superior film, but The Sisters Brothers is good. Very good. I too saw it on the television screen and of course it is made for the cinema–but even on television, it’s majesty can’t be denied.
I’m sort of back, Pete. I will post occasionally. I can’t be a superior blogger like yourself, though. I can’t be as interactive or as prolific as I had been.
Cheers.
Pam
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I will be happy to see you as and when, Pam. 🙂
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Hang on is it Easter already?! Is this the second coming! Haha only joking Pam.
Reading this and how it was filmed on 35mm and looking so divinely beautiful I had imagined in my head that it was an arthouse independent film! Then that wonderful man John C Reilly name appeared! I love that dude but he wasn’t who I expecting to be attached to this. Actually looking at the cast, wow that’s a big list of names. I will indeed keep a keen eye out for this, as it sounds really very good. And I’m sold on your enthusiasm.
Looking beautiful, “Roma” is something else. But yes that is arthouse. I was completely immersed but it’s not for everyone.
Nice to see you pop in and out Pam.
See you next time…… Mikey
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Haven’t seen Roma yet, but I’m going to. I think I will like it, though I’ve heard you need to be in the right frame of mind for it.
The Sisters Brothers is pretty arthouse in my opinion. That whole cast will go totally arthouse on you, although they also do mainstream films. They are very smart actors, I think. They stay busy and relevant, though none of them get caught up in being leading men or box office draws. I respect that and, I fantasize that if I had an acting career, that’s the way I would do it. Ha!
Anyway, Audiard had a substantially bigger budget–35 million, I believe–to work with than most arthouse films employ. But, that’s mere chickenfeed for the blockbuster budgets of, say, Captain America and the like.
Thanks for commenting Mikey and for putting up with my wishy washy ways.
Cheers.
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Yep you really need to be in that sweet spot for Roma. Comfy, surrounded by snacks, phone off and prepared to relax for two hours and let the monochrome wash over you. For me it was perfect.
I’m sure The Sister Brothers is arthouse, it was just seeing the wonderful John C. Reilly name pop up, it threw me. I know him so well as Dr Steve Brule 🙂
Can’t wait to see him as Oliver Hardy.
Don’t be silly, when you feel it’s right to pop back that’s all good for us all.
PS I will be keeping an eye out for The Sisters Brothers, it sounds ace.
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I liked the book a lot. Twice as much as the film. It had its good moments, but mediocre for me compared to the book. Nice to see you back!
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I’ve heard many great things about the book. I’m not surprised. I usually subscribe to the ‘book is better than the movie’ theory. I’ll have to read it.
Thanks for commenting.
–Pam
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Great review 🙂 So wonderful to hear from you again Pam 🙂 How is everything going? 🙂 I have not seen this film yet, but as with horror films, I really love Westerns. Speaking of horror films, I saw a great one last week entitled Us directed by Jordan Peele (Get Out). Two trailers have come out recently that might interest you – one is for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the other is the Jim Jarmusch zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die. Here are the two links below and keep up the great work as always 🙂
From
John
Charet
. .
U
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Thanks John. I am interested in Us. I’m over the whole zombie thing, though I really like Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland.
I grouse about Tarantino–his dialogue has become almost a liability, like Tom Cruise’s smile–but I always watch his films and I like them about 50% of the time. Some of them I love.
Thank you for the links. Very thoughtful of you.
I think you will like The Sisters Brothers. It has intricate plotting which, you seem to admire and it’s a grand production.
Thanks for commenting.
Pam
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I appreciate good cinematography…a movie that looks like a movie. My son had mentioned he wanted to see this one so we are planning to see it soon. Good to hear from you again Pam.
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Expect the unexpected. You may be lulled into false sense of security by the conventional Western tropes, but make no mistake–it’s different.
Thanks for commenting.
Pam
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Nice to hear from you, Pam. Sounds like a good movie to buy for my boyfriend, who enjoys neo-noir films, crime films, and Westerns.
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Thank you Lily. Hope all is well with you. Yes, I think you and your boyfriend will enjoy The Sisters Brothers.
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Welcome back, Pam! Hope all is well and you stick around I have never heard of this film, and I am sure it never played where I live. Theaters are too busy playing Avengers Take Over Vegas and Batman versus Everyone. Anyway, i am going to have to search for this one.
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Thank you John. I’m back in a more limited capacity. I was thinking of stopping by your site but I’m a little embarrassed about my dramatic resolution and being wishy washy and all that.
Anyway…Yes! This film is for you!…You must see it!…As you can see, I’m very enthusiastic about it. It’s a slow burn, psychological film with elements of strategic violence and comedy. It’s very character and dialogue driven. I loved it and I think you will too. Let me know what you think.
Pam
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