The Sisters Brothers

For a long time, I haven’t been at such a loss after watching a movie like I was after watching The Sisters Brothers. The acting was great, but I missed something story-wise. The first hour was pretty slow, and it being a western road trip the movie is quite slow-paced. It still had some mystery and even though some parts almost made me fall asleep, other scenes made me excited for what was about to come. In the end I could say that if there ever was a movie with a wasted potential, it would be this one. On one hand I have finished the movie and it engaged me enough to be thinking about it days later, on the other hand while watching it I wished there was more action. It’s a movie I see myself recommending to people, but I’d also be waiting for their opinion. Still very torn about this movie days after watching. (10/01/2019)

I didn't like it at all. The biggest draw is the badass Joaquin Phoenix, but John C. Reilly doesn't fit into a western at all and Jake Gyllenhaal has been less and less fun for me lately. Story-wise it's pretty unengaging, there's not much action and the pacing drags unfortunately. Along with Hostiles and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, this is the one that made the least impression on me. 50% (04/01/2019)

A two-hour long, loosely built plot with two groups of characters whose paths inevitably cross and develop in an unpredictable way. The power of the narration, however, doesn’t rely on a strong cliffhanger, but on the constant rewriting of the motivations of the characters through a good psychological portrayal and unclear relationships. Reilly and Phoenix complement each other flawlessly and the script exploits very well their different views of life, while Ahmed and Gyllenhaal complete the mosaic, incarnating the elusive American dream, whose spiritual value the film subverts in the end. The light-hearted tone disrupts its occasional filth and rawness, but with those great actors some of the one-liners do hit the spot. It’s a pity that they don’t explain very well the past of the brothers and, in particular, the fate of their father, but otherwise, this is one of the most pleasant westerns in recent years. 80% (15/01/2019)

For me (completely subjectively), this is the best western I have recently seen. The cast is memorable, and is combined with a well-depicted story about moral dilemmas and the relentlessness of mortality, it really struck a chord with me when I was in a not-so-good mood. At its core, it is a very sad and bitter movie (it is certainly not a comedy, as is often said) about brotherhood and about simply dealing with the crap life throws up sometimes. (28/01/2019)

I hadn’t heard of the director before, but I was especially drawn to the film by the critics' ratings and, of course, Joaquin Phoenix. I thought that since I had never seen him in a western, it could turn out to be fantastic. I was almost right. I guess I was expecting a bit more action-packed shootouts; the trailer hinted at moments where bullets are used generously. But perhaps that wouldn’t have suited the film’s concept. It relies heavily on dialogues that often reflect on life, etc., which sometimes felt like metaphorical conversations. This doesn’t detract from the film; it just surprised me a bit with its style. Phoenix clearly outperformed his fellow actors, demonstrating his exceptional ability to embody his characters (whether it’s the Joker or otherwise). However, when it comes to the shootout scenes, they are worth it. Jake Gyllenhaal’s character played a secondary role, and I could have imagined him having more screen time. For fans of classic westerns, I’m not sure if they will find it satisfying. But if you accept the film’s style, you won’t be bored under any circumstances, I promise you that. I give it 77%. (01/02/2019)