Plot
An intensely sad film about two brothers who cannot overcome their opposite perceptions of life. One brother see's and feels bad in everyone and everything...
Release Year: 1991
Rating: 7.0/10 (4,455 voted)
Director:
Sean Penn
Stars: David Morse, Viggo Mortensen, Valeria Golino
Storyline An intensely sad film about two brothers who cannot overcome their opposite perceptions of life. One brother see's and feels bad in everyone and everything, subsequently he is violent, antisocial and unable to appreciate or enjoy the good things which his brother desperately tries to point out to him. Frank understands the atrocities of life as a big picture, Joe does not, Joe is content to enjoy smaller pleasures -children, family, routine. Joe mistakenly believes he can straighten his little brother out and convince him that life is good. Frank is a cursed man. He is cut between his love for his brother and his repulsion at self-indulgent contentment. The result is a painful story of heartbreak, heartache, disappointment, despair, and the tragic side of love.
Cast: David Morse
-
Joe Roberts
Viggo Mortensen
-
Frank Roberts
Valeria Golino
-
Maria
Patricia Arquette
-
Dorothy
Charles Bronson
-
Mr. Roberts
Sandy Dennis
-
Mrs. Roberts
Dennis Hopper
-
Caesar
Jordan Rhodes
-
Randall
Enzo Rossi
-
Raffael
Harry Crews
-
Mr. Baker
Eileen Ryan
-
Mrs. Baker
Trevor Endicott
-
12-Years-Old Joe Roberts
Brandon Fleck
-
7-Years-Old Frank Roberts
Kathy Jensen
-
Lady at Carwash
James Devney
-
Deputy #1
(as Jim Devney)
Release Date: 20 September 1991
Filming Locations: Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $7,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $34,047
(USA)
(22 September 1991)
(4 Screens)
Gross: $191,125
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Sean Penn and Viggo Mortensen later appeared in the film
Carlito's Way.
Goofs:
Continuity:
Frank's prison tattoos change position throughout the movie.
Quotes: Maria:
[Hugs Frank]
Joe's gonna be so happy to see you!
User Review
Best movie iv'e ever seen
Rating:
This film has deeply affected me. The first time I saw it I had tears
pouring down my face throughout. The second time I found myself really
getting into it. Sure, you know what it's about from the other reviews.
We
ask ourselves why Frank isn't content with life. Most of us would feel
closer to Joe, but Penn enables us to sympathise with this wretched
character of Frank. He's not a nice guy. Myself; I am happy that this
film is not necessarily a period piece. It takes a while for you to
understand in what context the film is set. What makes this movie so good
is that is underlining message remains ambiguous. This is certainly a
film
that will stand the test of time. It's not about the nation of America
during the 70's. It's about the relationship of two brothers, and one
just
so happens to have come back from Vietnam. It could have been set in 2003
and the underlying message would remain the same. The talent of Penn is
in
that he never once blames Frank's actions on the Vietnam War. He was a
bad
kid before the War. I urge everyone to see this movie. You will either
sympathise with the characters and understand the underlying message or
you
will not. I also urge you to open your mind before you see the movie, and
if you don't understand it. Think about it for a while
longer.
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