Brothers In Arms -2005

Director : Jean-Claude La Marre

Writer : Jean-Claude La Marre, Antonio Olivas

Producers : Lila Aviv, Ken Halsband, Jean-Claude La Marre

Cinematographer : Guy Livneh
Runing Time: 85 mins

Rating: R

Genre : western/action/urban

Cast:  David Carradine, Gabriel Casseus, Antwon Tanner, Kurupt

           As I watched this new "revisionist western" Brothers in Arms, I noticed the name of writer/director Jean-Claude La Marre. That name sounded familiar...This is the Director who brought us the hilarios western Gang Of Roses. Which was a film I had little intrest in after Watching. why you ask?, its mostly a T&A movie shot in the western genre, and while I'm not againist a good T&A movie, that one was hilarious in every aspect, with the biggest being the story's Plot.

   The plot in this film Brothers In Arms, promises nothing more than Gang Of Roses did. Basically a black western about two brothers that gather their old gang back together to pull a bank heist. Of course the town bank is owned by a rich white evil bastard played by David Carradine, his deranged pyshcotic son, (played by, Peter Greene) and their badass bounty hunter. Now, the so-called-goodguys of the film, played by, Gabriel Casseus, Antwon Moore, Raymond Cruz, and Kurupt or (our hero's in the movie) are introduced to us in the story format, each with his own backdrop...One's a gambler with a grudge, another's a priest turned vengeful killer, and another's a woman who just likes to kill people. Again folks, these are the heroes of the film. Ed Lauter plays the mayor and he sounds exactly like W.C. Fields.

  Now the overview of the entire film, This guy shoots that guy, (dead space) another guy shoots another guy, (dead space) there's yet, another guy shot here and there (dead space) a bunch more shootings (dead space) then even more shootings, (dead space) all at once more shooting (dead space), and then, the movie ends. And the whole time this is happening........we have hip-hop music playing.  And again this is a western? 

  Most of the acting in this film is as dead as the plot, And then there are the action scenes, and the first one in the film, tells you all you need to know about Mr. La Marre's directorial style or lack there of. As Linc and his brother are confronted by six fully armed to the hilt gunmen, we see random shots of hands and guns, hands and guns,... and the six gunmen drop dead, as our heroes congratulate themselves on their masterful gunplay. And belive me this formula of action sequences are repeated thru-out the entire film.

   Listen, I don't care if a Western is all black, or what-the-hell-color-- infact you want to see a really good black western? I suggest you check out, Mario Van Peebles' Posse, now thats a good western film and Director, Jean-Claude La Marre should take some notes from that film. It may not be a REVISIONIST Western but its dam good western. The problem with this film was it is way to predictable, in every aspect, from story, to acting, to action.

I'm sure there's an audience out there, somewhere, including the fine folks at Sony Home Video for Mr. La Marre's string of "revisionist/urban Westerns, and I'll be glad to give the director, Jean-Claude La Marre a fair shake, but only when he makes a good western film. I just was'nt impressed.

 4/10 Stars