I have to agree somewhat with the comment entered before mine. The film is pretty predictable, had a weak storyline, contains a LOT of violence, and is full of holes.... and yet the characters (the two bothers and the parents especially) --- if not all always put in credible situations 100% of the time --- are very strong and surprisingly deeply moving, Rourke's perhaps being the weakest written and acted. Ted Levine, as the mentally-disturbed war vet brother, is especially moving and disturbing despite a scene or two (training children in warfare from atop a sandpile) which were a bit far-fetched. In fact I would have to say that the film itself is overall quite disturbing, violent, and a bit ugly, yet those aspects only cause the few images of humanity and tenderness to shine all the more. And isn't that what director Rourke intended...?
Overall, I'd say ---- with all the incredibly weak screenplays, seemingly written by ten-year- olds, that end up on the big screen every day --- his film is surprisingly well-crafted and under-rated, and definitely worth a look.
Overall, I'd say ---- with all the incredibly weak screenplays, seemingly written by ten-year- olds, that end up on the big screen every day --- his film is surprisingly well-crafted and under-rated, and definitely worth a look.