An intensely sad film about two brothers who cannot overcome their opposite perceptions of life. One brother see's and feels bad in everyone and everything, subsequently he is violent, antisocial and unable to appreciate or enjoy the good things which his brother desperately tries to point out to him. Frank understands the atrocities of life as a big picture, Joe does not, Joe is content to enjoy smaller pleasures -children, family, routine. Joe mistakenly believes he can straighten his little brother out and convince him that life is good. Frank is a cursed man. He is cut between his love for his brother and his repulsion at self-indulgent contentment. The result is a painful story of heartbreak, heartache, dissapointment, despair, and the tragic side of love. Summary written by wedgwood@e-garfield.com Joe (David Morse) and Frank (Viggo Mortensen) are two completely different brothers. Joe is content with life, is married, has a son and has a respectable job as a police officer. Frank is a hell raiser. Joe's life is stable until Frank comes home from serving in the Vietnam War. The film starts with Frank return from the war and the events for the following 18 months or so- on how Frank tries to get a normal life with Joe as his helper. However, despite having a reasonable job, getting married and soon-to-be dad, he still cant control himself. His actions bring the film to an emotional climax....

release year: 1991

star(s): Benicio Del Toro    Charles Bronson    Patricia Arquette    Viggo Mortensen