My Brother's War

Last updated

My Brother's War
My Brother's War.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed by James Brolin
Written byAlex Simon
Starring
Music by
Production
company
Distributed by New Horizons
Release date
  • 1997 (1997)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.1 million [1]

My Brother's War (also known as Flashpoint) is a 1997 American film directed by and starring James Brolin.

Contents

It was filmed in Ireland for Concorde Anois. [2]

Plot

In Northern Ireland, brothers Gerry and Liam are members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. In the wake of the peace process, Gerry wants to follow ethical principles, while Liam knows no limits; this leads them to a divide and Liam forms a splinter group. A CIA agent and the support of Mary will force Gerry to stop his brother.

Cast

Production

The film was shot in Ireland. Brolin was visited during filming by his then girlfriend Barbra Streisand. [1]

"I really wanted to support Jim, because I knew how difficult it was to direct a movie that you're in," Streisand said. "I had been with men who were not so supportive when I was doing a movie. So I really wanted to give him what I felt I didn't get. I would get up at 5 and give him breakfast and help him through that ordeal. It was just a very loving intimate experience to live in a house with a thatched roof." [3]

Reception

In his book The IRA on Film and Television: A History, Mark Connelly cites the film as one of the films featuring the IRA that presents its acts as belonging to a "splinter" group at odds with the "official" IRA in an attempt to avoid political commentary, which Connelly argues "grant[s] a cloak of legitimacy to the IRA by blaming violence and extremism on lone malcontents." [4]

Awards

The film was named Best Feature Film with a budget over $1 million at the 1997 Hollywood Film Festival. [5] [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Adams</span> Irish republican politician (born 1948)

Gerard Adams is an Irish republican politician who was the president of Sinn Féin between 13 November 1983 and 10 February 2018, and served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for Louth from 2011 to 2020. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he followed the policy of abstentionism as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the British Parliament for the Belfast West constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbra Streisand</span> American singer and actress (born 1942)

Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being among the first performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT).

<i>The Prince of Tides</i> 1991 American film by Barbra Streisand

The Prince of Tides is a 1991 American romantic drama film directed and co-produced by Barbra Streisand, from a screenplay written by Pat Conroy and Becky Johnston, based on Conroy's 1986 novel of the same name. It stars Streisand and Nick Nolte. It tells the story of the narrator's struggle to overcome the psychological damage inflicted by his dysfunctional childhood in South Carolina.

The 20th Annual Grammy Awards were held February 23, 1978, and were broadcast live on American television. They were hosted by John Denver and recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Brolin</span> American actor (born 1940)

James Brolin is an American actor. Brolin has won two Golden Globes and an Emmy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 27, 1998. He is the father of actor Josh Brolin and the husband of Barbra Streisand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Pierson</span> American screenwriter and film director

Frank Romer Pierson was an American screenwriter and film director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerry Goffin</span> American lyricist (1939–2014)

Gerald Goffin was an American lyricist. Collaborating initially with his first wife, Carole King, he co-wrote many international pop hits of the early and mid-1960s, including the US No.1 hits "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Take Good Care of My Baby", "The Loco-Motion", and "Go Away Little Girl". It was later said of Goffin that his gift was "to find words that expressed what many young people were feeling but were unable to articulate."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Gould</span> American actor and singer (born 1966)

Jason Emanuel Gould is an American actor and singer.

<i>The Mirror Has Two Faces</i> 1996 film by Barbra Streisand

The Mirror Has Two Faces is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film produced and directed by Barbra Streisand, who also stars. The screenplay by Richard LaGravenese is loosely based on the 1958 French film Le Miroir à deux faces written by André Cayatte and Gérard Oury. Also starring are Jeff Bridges, Pierce Brosnan, George Segal, Mimi Rogers, Brenda Vaccaro, and Lauren Bacall. The story focuses on a shy, middle-aged professor who enters into a platonic relationship with an unlucky colleague.

<i>The Boxer</i> (1997 film) 1997 Irish film

The Boxer is a 1997 Irish sports drama film written and directed by Jim Sheridan and co-written by Terry George. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, and Brian Cox, the film centres on the life of a boxer and former Provisional IRA volunteer Danny Flynn, played by Day-Lewis, who is trying to "go straight" after his release from prison. The film is the third collaboration between Sheridan and Day-Lewis, and portrays the increase of splinter groups within the IRA. In preparation for the role, Daniel Day-Lewis trained as a boxer in Ireland for a year.

<i>A Star Is Born</i> (1976 film) Musical-romance by Frank Pierson

A Star Is Born is a 1976 American musical romantic drama film directed by Frank Pierson, written by Pierson, John Gregory Dunne, and Joan Didion. It stars Barbra Streisand as an unknown singer and Kris Kristofferson as an established rock and roll star who fall in love, only to find her career ascending while his goes into decline. A Star Is Born premiered at the Mann Village Theater on December 18, 1976, with a wide release by Warner Bros. the following day. A huge box office success, grossing $80 million on a $6 million budget in North America, the film became the 2nd highest-grossing that year. Reviews praised its performances and musical score, but criticized the screenplay and runtime. At the 49th Academy Awards, the film won Best Original Song for its love theme "Evergreen".

<i>My Name Is Barbra</i> 1965 studio album by Barbra Streisand

My Name Is Barbra is the first of two studio album tie-ins by Barbra Streisand for her debut television special of the same name, which aired April 28, 1965, on CBS-TV. Boosted by the critical acclaim for the broadcast, the album was certified gold and peaked at #2 on the US charts; by 1966, the album sold over one million copies worldwide.

<i>My Name Is Barbra, Two...</i> 1965 studio album by Barbra Streisand

My Name Is Barbra, Two... is the second of two studio album tie-ins by Barbra Streisand for her debut television special of the same name, which first aired April 28, 1965. The second album was released in October 1965 to coincide with the rebroadcast of the special on CBS.

<i>The Movie Album</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 2003 studio album by Barbra Streisand

The Movie Album is the thirtieth studio album by American singer Barbra Streisand, released on October 14, 2003, by Columbia Records. Overall, her sixtieth release with her record label, it was executively produced by Streisand and her manager, Jay Landers. A concept album, it contains twelve songs from the singer's favorite films ranging in release from 1935 to 1988. While curating the album, Streisand was inspired by her marriage to actor James Brolin to record songs about love and relationships. To better fit her needs, songwriting duo Alan and Marilyn Bergman were commissioned to add lyrics to several of the songs Streisand had chosen to record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Finally Found Someone</span> 1996 single by Bryan Adams and Barbra Streisand

"I Finally Found Someone" is a song by American singer Barbra Streisand and Canadian singer Bryan Adams. The power ballad was part of the soundtrack of Streisand's 1996 self-directed movie The Mirror Has Two Faces and was nominated for an Oscar. Several versions of a CD single were issued on its initial release. One contains a rare Spanish-language version of her 1976 song "Evergreen", as well as Adams' previous single "Let's Make a Night to Remember". Another version includes three solo recordings by Adams from his most recent album.

<i>Funny Girl</i> (film) 1968 film by William Wyler

Funny Girl is a 1968 American biographical-musical film directed by William Wyler and written by Isobel Lennart, adapted from her book for the stage musical of the same title. It is loosely based on the life and career of comedienne Fanny Brice and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein.

<i>Timeless: Live in Concert</i> 2000 live album by Barbra Streisand

Timeless: Live in Concert is a live album released by Barbra Streisand on September 19, 2000. It was her fifth live album and was released on Columbia Records. The album was issued a week before what were said to be her final concerts in September 2000 and would reach platinum certification.

<i>A Prayer for the Dying</i> 1987 film by Mike Hodges

A Prayer for the Dying is a 1987 thriller film about a former IRA member trying to escape his past. The film was directed by Mike Hodges, and stars Mickey Rourke, Liam Neeson, Bob Hoskins, and Alan Bates. The film is based on the 1973 Jack Higgins novel of the same name.

<i>The Gentle Gunman</i> 1952 film

The Gentle Gunman is a 1952 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring John Mills, Dirk Bogarde and Elizabeth Sellars. The film is based on a 1950 play of the same title by Roger MacDougall that was televised by the BBC in September 1950. It was produced by Ealing Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Jim Morahan.

<i>Yentl</i> (film) 1983 film by Barbra Streisand

Yentl is a 1983 American romantic musical drama film directed, co-written, co-produced by, and starring American entertainer Barbra Streisand. It is based on Isaac Bashevis Singer's short story "Yentl the Yeshiva Boy".

References

  1. 1 2 BROLIN CHECKS IN: Former `Hotel' star re-enters the limelight with TV success and a romance with Barbra Streisand. Hall, Steve. Indianapolis Star 18 Dec 1997: E.1.
  2. Hollywood fest to screen Brolin film FROM NEWS SERVICES. The Atlanta Constitution; Atlanta, Ga. [Atlanta, Ga]07 Oct 1997: D.07.
  3. STREISAND FINDS LOVE AS SOFT AS AN EASY CHAIR A STUDY IN CONTRADICTION, THE ENTERTAINMENT LEGEND TALKS ABOUT THE HARMONY THAT SHE HAS FOUND IN HER LIFE WITH FIANCE JAMES BROLIN.: [METRO Edition] Claudia Dreifus New York Times. Orlando Sentinel; Orlando, Fla. [Orlando, Fla]14 Nov 1997: E1.
  4. Connelly, Mark (2012). The IRA on Film and Television: A History. McFarland. p. 215. ISBN   9780786489619.
  5. "My Brother's War". TV Guide . Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  6. An hour on the phone with James Brolin Dolan, Deirdre. Us Weekly; New York Iss. 299, (Nov 6, 2000): 68-71.