The Brothers McMullen (1995)

Director:

Edward Burns

Writer:

Edward Burns (writer)

Release Date:

9 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The Highly Acclaimed Romantic Comedy From Edward Burns

Plot:

Three Irish Catholic brothers from Long Island struggle to deal with love, marriage, and infidelity.

Plot Keywords:

Irish American | True Love | Irish Catholic | Directed By Star | New York City

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Shari Albert	...	Susan
Maxine Bahns	...	Audrey
Catharine Bolz	...	Mrs. McMullen
Connie Britton	...	Molly McMullen
Edward Burns	...	Barry / Finbar McMullen
Peter Johansen	...	Marty
Jennifer Jostyn	...	Leslie
Mike McGlone	...	Patrick McMullen
Elizabeth McKay	...	Ann
Jack Mulcahy	...	Jack McMullen

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | Spain:13 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Brothers McMullen Productions

Trivia:

Seamus Egan, who composed much of the music on the soundtrack, was on a tour of New England when his car broke down. He was put up for the night by a local couple he had never met, whose adult son happened to be visiting for the weekend. They loaned Seamus their own car so he could finish the tour. In gratitude, Seamus (and bluegrass musician Dirk Powell) gave them copies of their CDs, they only gift they could afford at the time. The son turned out to be Andy Yarme, a technician working on the film in New York. The CDs found their way to Ed Burns, who in turn called Seamus and asked if he could use some of the music on the film. After the film was picked up by Sundance, the music was remastered, and due to the increased budget, Sarah McLachlan was brought on board. Together, they re-wrote Seamus' instrumental "Weep Not For the Memories", creating the hit "I Will Remember You". McLachlan's video for the song following its release as a single cost three times to make as the entire Brothers McMullen production.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the two younger brothers (Barry and Patrick) are asking Jack if they can stay with him, Jack has a three day growth of facial hair. In the very next scene he's totally clean shaven.

Quotes:

Patrick: So what'd ya' give up for Lent?
Barry: I gave up resolutions this year.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Saving Private Ryan': Miller and His Platoon (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

I Will Remember You

In praise of dialogue

'The Brothers McMullen', written, directed by and starring Edward Burns (on an extremely low-budget), invites us into the cosy relationship between three Irish-American brothers and their own relationships with God and members of the opposite sex. It is a conventional wisdom that a good story needs a beginning, a middle and an end, yet 'The Brothers McMullen' seems to be all middle - and engagingly so. Burns gives us a glimpse into the lives of these three brothers as they struggle to find their way through personal emotional turning points and re-evaluate their belief systems. The film is dominated by perceptive, sensitive and realistic dialogue throughout. The dilemmas of these three brothers are instantly recognisable to anyone in their twenties or thirties, their inner conflicts easy to identify with. This film is beautifully acted, and particularly likeable is Mike McGlone as the youngest brother who desperately tries to hold on to what he believes is his genuine Catholic conviction whilst searching for 'true love'. Burns' script is witty, warm, honest and wonderfully unpretentious. Burns himself turns in a great performance of the ever-maligned man who is 'afraid of commitment', yet somehow manages to remain intensely appealing and prevents his character from appearing to be a cliché. A rare gem among contemporary movies - one which is fuelled by words and not actions. Refreshing.