May 12, 2006

• Topic: Brothers McMullen

  Since I’ve bought a new laptop, I’ve been inhaling movies. Last night, I watched Brothers McMullen, about 3 Irish Catholic brothers living under one roof on Long Island. Each one forced to deal with their own issues of sex, love, and relationships.

  The storylines, from oldest to youngest:

  Oldest – married, but when an attractive friend turns on the seduction, he’s forced to deal with his physical desires. His fidelity to his wife breaks down, as he ultimately caves to a woman who is, at the same time, only concerned for her own physical desires. At one point, the husband comments, “I’ll deal with guilt later, but take the pleasure now.” He gets the 3rd degree from his younger brother, who calls him on his sinning (although he himself has recognized his own sinful actions with regards to sex before marriage).

  Middle – 25yr. old male, writer, moves back home. Has never been in love. Perhaps afraid to commit, perhaps just hasn’t met the woman he’s looking for. Discovers himself turning a friendly relationship with a W. Village woman whose apartment he was looking to rent, into a fling that develops quicker than he’d like.

  Youngest – dating a Jewish girl while in college, he freaks when she suggests moving in and marriage. With coaxing from brother middle, he decides to end the relationship, but then begins to desire what he has just given up. He tells her the reason he can’t be with her is because his Catholic upbrining says he cannot live with a woman he’s not married to (although he’s already knocked her up before marriage). They eventually get back together, which makes him happy for about a minute, before he sees again that this isn’t what he wants. This time, she ends it, “besides, you’re not Jewish and won’t convert.” Ultimately, he then finds a new girl, an old friend from school, and they fall in love and drive off to California together.

  Overall, an enjoyable movie, will give it 2 thumbs up.

  • 10:28 am
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