The Brothers McMullen
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| The Brothers McMullen | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Edward Burns |
| Written by | Edward Burns |
| Produced by | Edward Burns Dick Fisher |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Dick Fisher |
| Edited by | Dick Fisher |
| Music by | 20th Century Fox |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $25,000 (Sundance showing) $238,000 (full release) |
| Box office | $19.3 million |
The Brothers McMullen is a 1995 American
Plot
Finbar "Barry" McMullen stands at the grave of his recently deceased father, along with his mother, who tells him that she's returning to her native Ireland to be with Finbar O'Shaughnessy (after whom Barry is named), her sweetheart of long ago. She tells Barry that while she gave Barry's father 35 of the best years of her life, she's going to start living life her way with Finbar O'Shaughnessy, the man she really loves.
Barry's brother Jack has purchased their parents' home and lives in it with his wife Molly. Jack is torn between his love for Molly and his lust for Ann, a former romantic interest of Barry.
Barry and the youngest brother Patrick ask to temporarily move in with Jack, to which he reluctantly agrees. Patrick plans to break his engagement to Susan, but becomes depressed when she breaks up with him. After much pleading, Susan decides to take him back. Patrick then decides to end the relationship for good for Leslie, an auto mechanic. They head to California together in a classic car that Leslie has been working on.
Barry shows no interest in a long-term relationship until he meets Audrey, a woman whom he accuses of "stealing" an apartment that he was trying to rent for himself. Although things do not go well between them at first, they warm to one another and start a relationship.
Molly learns of Jack's affair after finding a wrapped condom in his pants as she is cleaning up after him one day. She confronts Jack, but he refuses to discuss it.
Jack finally breaks it off for good with Ann. He then returns home determined to rebuild his wounded marriage, but not before paying a visit to his father's grave, promising that he will be a better husband to his wife than his father was, pouring a bottle of Irish whiskey over the grave.
Barry decides to move in with Audrey and take their relationship to the next level. The three brothers gather at the family homestead with a newfound belief in love and a desire not to let the ghosts of the past stand in their way.
Cast
- Shari Albert as Susan
- Maxine Bahns as Audrey
- Catherine Bolz as Mrs. McMullen
- Connie Britton as Molly McMullen
- Edward Burns as Barry (Finbar) McMullen
- Peter Johansen as Marty
- Jennifer Jostyn as Leslie
- Michael McGlone as Patrick McMullen
- Elizabeth McKay as Ann
- Jack Mulcahy as Jack McMullen
Production
Edward Burns wrote the screenplay in the spring of 1993 while working as a production assistant for Entertainment Tonight, where he worked for cameraman Dick Fisher, who later produced and edited the film. Burns' own Irish Catholic background fed into the screenplay, and film was mostly shot in Burns' real-life family home, a house in the Valley Stream community of Long Island, New York.[1] Shooting took place on weekends over an eight-month period in New York.
The film, which was shot on
When Robert Redford was at the Entertainment Tonight studios for an interview, Burns approached him at the elevator and gave him a copy of the film, asking Redford to watch it. Redford later extended an invitation to show it at the Sundance Film Festival.[2] The showing led to a distribution deal, which included an additional $213,000 for post-production work and to get the rights for the Sarah McLachlan song "I Will Remember You", which was added over the closing credits.[3]
Reception
When it won the
On the
Awards
- Sundance Film Festival 1995 — Grand Jury Prize
- Independent Spirit Award1995 — Best First Feature
- Deauville Film Festival 1995 — Jury Special Prize (Edward Burns)
References
- ^ Lipson, Karin (1995-08-13). "Little 'Brothers' in Big Time : Ed Burns' low-budget film made in his parents' home is opening with the sort of buzz that a young filmmaker dreams of". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ a b Meek, Andy (2015-02-06). "Ed Burns on The Brothers McMullen, finding your voice, and the meat grinder of independent filmmaking". The Week. Retrieved 2016-09-20.
- ^ a b "The Brothers McMullen". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- ^ "Selected Sundance alumni domestic vs international". Screen International. 17 February 1997. p. 18.
- ^ Klady, Leonard (January 22, 1996). "Big clicks from little flicks". Variety. p. 1.
- ^ "The Brothers McMullen". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved 2023-02-17.
External links
