"Four Brothers" - Directed by John Singleton (2005)
Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and some sexual content.

Nowadays, Rated R action movies are becoming more and more sparse. To produce the maximum amount of profit, movie companies often choose to omit certain scenes in order to ensure a PG-13 rating ("Alien Vs. Predator" (2004), for example). Therefore, upon seeing the Restricted status of "Four Brothers" for strong violence, I became immediately excited.

In the wake of their mother's death, four step-brothers (Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin, and Garrett Hedlund), return to their former Detroit home. After a short period of mourning, the reformed hoodlums revert to their old ways, going on a bloody path of revenge. But have all 4 brothers been upfront with each other?

Even though I was expecting a shoot'em up, inner-city revenge movie, I was rather surprised at just how violent "Four Brothers" truly was. Although not necessarily bloody (save for some graphic gunshot wounds and a very broken leg), there was a fair amount of cold-blooded executions. Even the main characters, whose intentions are well-meaning at their core, perform some rather atrocious acts.

The cast, which consists of three musicians turned actors, played their parts exemplarily. The four main characters, despite being very dissimilar in appearance and past acting experience, have a great rapport on-screen. They work very well with each other, coming off as very convincing brothers. The supporting cast is equally successfully, creating a great variety of highly believable delinquents.

The snowy, urban wasteland of Detroit creates the perfect backdrop for this story of corruption and revenge. The white-out, blizzardy conditions are appropriate for the equally frozen hearts of the ruthless gangsters that reside there. This moody atmosphere is complimented by a well chosen score of classic Motown tunes.

If you're looking for a well-crafted, intelligent, and very down to Earth mix of family values and bloody revenge, "Four Brothers" will not disappoint. The plot, which moves along at an excellent pace, is original and believable--with a few twists and turns to keep you interested. Although it gets a bit complicated near the end (to be honest, I didn't fully understand it), you are left with a satisfying and equally fitting ending.

Rating: 4/5

~Khyron, 2005