The Sisters Brothers (2018)

The Sisters Brothers finds a satisfying groove, walking a line between funny irreverency and dark pathos which works just right. A lot of this has to do with the chemistry between the titular brothers played by John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix supported in great characters performances by Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed. It all comes together quite nicely and makes for an entertaining 2 hours.

Director Jacques Audiard doesn't over do anything, the violence or the humour or the drama. He chooses instead a fairly steady hand to tell this story of sympathetic killers chasing their prey. It could have been easy for this story to feel heavy handed, too silly, or even dry but Audiard strikes that balance. The script is clever and truly funny without, once again, overdoing it.

Filmed in the "spaghetti western" style by using European locals to represent the American old west, The Sisters Brothers feels mostly familiar yet manages to find its own unique voice. Audiard finds little moments to let something catch our eye, give his cast a chance to shine. Overall The Sisters Brothers works well.

The Sisters Brothers
Starring: John C Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed
Director: Jacques Audiard
Writers: Thomas Bidegain, Jacques Audiard