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Brother’s Keeper (DVD Review)

Brother’s Keeper is a faith based movie that takes the viewer by surprise.  A well-written but far-fetched story premise, that shocks the audience with the finial twist.  A small story about a small town that get s a huge helping of faith and hope.

Brother’s Keeper is directed by T.J. Amato (“Sugar Wars-The Rise of the Cleveland Mafia”) and Joshua Mills (“Sugar Wars-The Rise of the Cleveland Mafia” and “A Broken Bridge”) and stars Alex and Graham Miller, Daniel Samonas, Michael Rooker, Ray Wise, Travis Trit and Robyn Lively. Real life twins, Alex and Graham, portray twin brothers, Andy and Pete. Pete Goodwynn is an all-American golden boy destined to succeed in everything he puts his mind to. With dreams of marrying his high-school sweetheart and going to seminary school on his football scholarship, the small town is expecting great things from him. His brother, Andy, is polar opposite. He’s always in trouble, rebels against authority, easy to anger, and constantly finds himself in the office of the town’s sheriff.

When a classmate and fellow jock becomes jealous of Pete and his fiancée, a rash act leads to a cover-up from the town’s wealthy family and a frame-up for Pete. At first it seems like Pete will be exonerated from the false charges due to witnesses and testimony. But as each witness is bought off by the wealthy family to keep their appearance up, Pete and Andy begin to lose hope that justice will be served.

With the rolls reversed now, Andy does what he can to help save his brother. The characters’ transformations from the role of “good boy” to the role of “bad boy” and back the other way are very well done. This tiny film has a very big message which can only be summed up in one line delivered so brilliantly by Andy. “As long as you can pull air into your lungs, you have potential—potential to help someone.”

The twist at the end is very unforeseen and moving. With a message of forgiveness, the brothers show us that through the most adverse of situations, each person has the power to forgive and help someone else. With this power comes healing abilities that no one can possibly predict.

Although some points of the story seem very far-fetched, it is an enjoyable faith-based story. I truly enjoyed the surprise twist. A nicely done period piece that touches on a lot of hot-topics in today’s society, including some of the seven deadly sins.

1. Ability to forgive heinous acts done unto you.
2. Death penalty of falsely convicted criminals due to injustice and corruption.
3. Doing the right thing no matter the end results.
4. Greed for power.
5. Pride with the well-to-do family trying to remain righteous.
6. Lust for another’s partner.
7. Coveting another’s life, deeds, path

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DVD information:

118 minutes

1 disc

Widescreen 1.85:1

Color

English language

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence, disturbing images, and some teen drinking and smoking.

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Summary: I give this one a 3 out of 5 doggies. Entertaining and enjoyable story with a big message. Well performed even though far-fetched at points. Nicely done faith-based story. There is also a very nicely performed song by the band, Bad Horse, that moved me.

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