THE SISTERS BROTHERS (2018) *** ½

The cute title makes The Sisters Brothers sound like it’s going to be a comedy.  Sort of a Step Brothers Out West kind of thing.  While there is some levity and humorous moments along the way, this is more about struggling with grief, living with trauma, and the burden of fraternal ties.  

The Sisters Brothers are a pair of henchmen who do dirty deeds at the behest of the shady “Commodore” (Rutger Hauer).  Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix) is the de facto leader, a hard-drinking, trigger-happy scoundrel that maybe likes his profession of tracking and killing a bit too much.  Eil (John C. Reilly) is the more sensible of the two, but just because he’s often the voice of reason doesn’t mean he isn’t just as quick and deadly with a pistol.  Although he’s fiercely loyal to his brother to a fault, Eli’s constantly searching for an opportunity to leave his life of bloodshed behind.  Charlie, on the other hand, revels in it, perpetuating the cycle of his family’s violent past.  

Their target is a chemist (Riz Ahmed), who has figured out a formula for finding gold.  He takes up with a detective (Jake Gyllenhaal), who turns on the Commodore in search for buried treasure.  Once the Sisters catch up to them, greed takes over and the four men form a shaky alliance that could end bitterly at any moment. 

There are shots and scenes here that evoke Ford and Huston.  Whereas their films were more about perpetuating the myths of the Old West, director Jacques (A Prophet) Audiard is more concerned about how men cope with the legacy of violence.  Even if there’s more on his mind than just the standard cowboy stuff, Audiard still gives Western fans plenty of gunplay and shootouts. 

Reilly is fantastic.  He gives one of his career-best performances as the introspective, protective, and loyal Eli.  Phoenix is phenomenal as his brooding, volatile, drunken brother Charlie.  His performance in this is somewhat similar to his role in The Master, and with this, Joker and I’m Still Here, he delivers another memorable performance of someone stricken with mental illness and alcoholism.  

This will not be a movie for all tastes.  It’s deliberately paced and has some serious lulls in between the violence.  Also, it’s sad to see the usually charismatic Rutger Hauer wasted in what is nothing more than a cameo, even if his character casts a long shadow story wise.  These are minor quibbles in the long run as there are plenty of affecting moments along the way.  Besides, how can you pass up a movie that stars Dewey Cox AND Johnny Cash? 

AKA:  Golden River.