the talking heads format just doesn't make for compelling film, despite its timeliness
Brothers in Arms (2004)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:15
Fresh:11
Rotten:4
Average Rating:6.2/10
Theatrical Release:Aug 27, 2004 Limited
Synopsis: The fierce debate leading up to a presidential election involves some tough talking on both sides of the political divide. But when John Kerry and George W. Bush went into battle in the buildup to... The fierce debate leading up to a presidential election involves some tough talking on both sides of the political divide. But when John Kerry and George W. Bush went into battle in the buildup to the 2004 race to the White House, the usual political mudslinging contained a formidable war of words, and most of the words were about war. The Vietnam War has long cast a shadow over American politics and Kerry's tenure as a soldier in Vietnam meant that the subject was put firmly back on the political agenda once he decided to run for president. Filmmaker Paul Anderson picked up on this, and decided to trace Kerry's service record during the war, discovering that the senator served as commander of a six-man team aboard Patrol Craft Fast 94, which traversed the Mekong Delta river in 1969. Anderson tracked down the surviving five members of the boat crew--including Kerry--and offers their various recollections in BROTHERS IN ARMS. Doubts have been cast over Kerry's service record, but the glowing testimonials from his fellow crew members quickly dispel any lingering ambiguities surrounding his time in the jungle. Entirely partisan in its approach, Anderson's film adroitly profiles the blossoming authority of the young John Kerry, and offers a tantalizing glimpse of a man heading immutably towards a future life in the political spectrum. [More]
Starring: John Kerry, David Alston, Mike Medeiros, Del Sandusky
Starring: John Kerry, David Alston, Mike Medeiros, Del Sandusky, Gene Thorson
Director: Paul Anderson
Director: Paul Anderson
Studio: First Run Features
Get This Movie
Reviews for Brothers in Arms
The vets tell the truth, by any reasonable measure, and then the filmmaker stirs the elements as filmmakers always do, whether partisan or neutral.
Inevitably, the film has the air of an extended campaign ad, but that doesn't make its subjects and the stories they tell any less compelling.
Alexander, a political writer and radio host, gets riveting, emotional confessionals from the veterans.
For a feature film, this clearly partisan documentary about the Swift boat crew that served under John Kerry in Vietnam is pretty slight, but for a campaign commercial -- which is what it feels like -- it's pretty long.
Will this film do Kerry any good, or the Swifties any harm? My bet is: Not a bit, one way or the other.
The documentary is well edited, well paced, and feels genuine. It's educational, important and enjoyable independent of the Kerry campaign.
Basically a longer, less slick version of the official Kerry profile unveiled at the Democratic National Convention.
Tellingly, [John] Kerry is a much more compelling speaker during a 1970s protest rally than in the contemporary footage, where he carefully chooses his words.
The four men offer powerful eyewitness testimony against the subsequent charges that Kerry didn't deserve his Silver Star for courage and his three Purple Hearts.
A respectfully modest effort that allows Kerry and his Swift boat comrades to tell their stories in their own voices.
Filmed before the Swift boat veterans brouhaha, Paul Alexander's partisan documentary is effective filmmaking.
The movie's main contribution is its fresh look at the Vietnam War, being refought in the Kerry-Bush presidential campaign at the time of the film's release.
As for the candidate, like Tony Wilson in 24 Hour Party People, he's wisely content to remain a supporting character in his own life story.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 15% 15% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 45% 45% | Shorts |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Brothers in Arms at Rotten Tomatoes
- Brothers in Arms at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hollywood.com ponders whether or not an animated film could win Best Picture.

Richard Corliss previews the season's best offerings and hottest tickets.

The AV Club's Mike D'Angelo airs his beefs with Alfonso Cuaron's Children of Men.
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



