Stars: Jack Mulcahy, Mike McGlone, Edward Burns, Connie Britton, Maxine Bahns, Elizabeth P. McKay, Shari Albert, Jennifer Jostyn

Director: Edward Burns

Summary: The McMullen brothers are caught up in a world of temptation and confusion as their Catholic upbringing clashes with their love life.

Two main issues are complicating the lives of the Irish, Long Island-based, working-class McMullen brothers: Catholicism and women. Jack is the married oldest brother who's cheating on his perfect wife. Barry is the relationship-wary middle brother who, to his surprise and dismay, is finally falling in love. But Patrick, the most religious brother, ironically is the one who must deal with issues of premarital sex and abortion--a situation that leaves him consumed with guilt. Fortunately for the siblings, however, they're all temporarily living under the same roof, where they can discuss their problems and philosophies--and help each other make it through this troubled time.
The 27-year-old writer-director-producer-star, Ed Burns, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for this debut.

WIN DVDs by rating this DVD

Average User Rating:

WIN DVDS by being amongst the first to review this DVD. Reviewing DVDs earns you bonus entries and lets you WIN DVDs!Please login before reviewing this DVD. If you're a new user, register for free and enter to WIN FREE DVDs!

Edward Burns's debut film as an actor-director, The Brothers McMullen, makes a virtue of its limited budget in the same way John Sayles's The Return of the Secaucus 7did in 1980. Stuck with limited technical means, Burns wisely puts his energies into a sophisticated story, knowing an audience couldn't care less about lighting problems if they're caught up in a terrific, character-driven movie with good actors. The tale concerns three adult brothers (Burns, Jack Mulcahy, Mike McGlone) whose complications in love and problems with commitment are rooted in their common experiences in a violent, loveless family. Burns has a hang- loose style that keeps the film from getting drunk on intense drama. He sets up the emotional backdrop and lets the characters' lives speak for themselves. Moreover, this is a filmmaker who enjoys life too much to spread any more misery; Burns delights as much in the things that aren't necessarily good for people--illicit lovers, castration anxiety, too much time with one's family, too much beer--as those things that are. The results are frequently very funny. --Tom Keogh

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1995
Release Date:	July 19, 2004
Runtime:	94 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	08934 D V D
Keywords:	Brothers, Comedy, General, Mcmullen
Genre:	Comedy