Brothers

The Vietnam war sparked many controversies in 1960s America. Many people believe that this was because it was the first "televised war." News programs of the era were actually showing battles in progress on the tv screens inside peoples living rooms. The recent 2009 film, Brothers, directed by Jim Sheridan, I believe makes an effort to do this with the now current American war. Tobey McGuire plays a Marine who embarks on his fourth tour in Iran. Once he returns home to his wife played by Natalie Portman, and brother played by Jake Gyllenhaal, the audience starts to view the atrocities of war. While this film would most defiantly spark debate on war crimes, it would also spark debate on modern United States government propaganda. The film takes a definite right winged side to the war and never once mentions the war crimes committed by our own troops. Another issue explored in the film is one dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, Gyllenhaal, upon returning from over seas has a very difficult time dealing with what he did, and what happened while over there. He refuses to ask for help and ultimatly that leads to his downfall. Brothers would most defiantly make a great addition to the class.