The Brothers McMullen (1995)
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Three Irish-American brothers on Long Island navigate the complexities of love, family, and faith following the death of their father.
The story
Following the death of their father, three Irish Catholic brothers on Long Island, New York, must navigate their lives and values—love, sex, marriage, religion, and family—over a three-month period. The eldest brother, Jack, lives in their parents' home with his wife, while the middle brother, Barry, and the youngest, Patrick, find themselves at a crossroads. As their mother prepares to return to Ireland, the brothers must confront their individual struggles with romance and commitment. The story captures their journey as they grapple with the ghosts of the past while attempting to forge their own paths in the 1990s.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After their father's death, the mother of the McMullen brothers announces she is returning to Ireland to be with a former lover. Jack, who lives in the family home with his wife Molly, is torn between his love for her and his lust for Ann. Barry and the youngest brother, Patrick, move in with Jack. Patrick faces a complicated relationship with Susan before eventually choosing to leave for California with a woman named Leslie. Barry begins a relationship with Audrey after a rocky start. Meanwhile, Molly discovers Jack's affair and confronts him. Jack eventually ends his affair with Ann and vows to be a better husband. The film concludes with the three brothers at the family homestead, united by a new sense of hope and a determination to move forward from the past.
- First release year
- 1995
- Runtime (minutes)
- 98
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Edward Burns
- Writers
- Edward Burns · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jack Mulcahy · Jack McMullen; Mike McGlone · Patrick McMullen; Edward Burns · Barry (Finbar) McMullen; Connie Britton · Molly McMullen; Maxine Bahns · Audrey; Elizabeth P. McKay · Ann; Shari Albert · Susan; Jennifer Jostyn · Leslie
- Genres
- comedy-drama
- Themes
- family; romance; faith; tradition
- Tone and mood
- dramatic; comedic
- Premise and plot tags
- Irish-American; brotherhood; coming-of-age
- Reception
- The film was a critical and commercial success, winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and becoming the most profitable film of its year based on its low budget. It was also noted as the first film released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 20
- Awards and nominations
- Grand Jury Prize · Sundance Film Festival · 1995 · Win; Best First Feature · Independent Spirit Award · 1995 · Win; Jury Special Prize (Edward Burns) · Deauville Film Festival · 1995 · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on 16mm film with a very low initial budget.; It was the first film released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.; Edward Burns was dubbed 'The New Woody Allen' following the film's release.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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