I’m now starting to get genuinely excited about the prospect of Brothers. I was hopeful but really struggled to see how a remake would really win over industry people and critics. Granted, we haven’t seen any proper reviews yet but the buzz is certainly growing.

Most encouraging so far is this new Boston Herald piece. It’s well worth a read and includes and interview with Jim and Jake, which has a few interesting Natalie mentions.

As other leading sure things fade “Brothers,” which Lionsgate is releasing Dec. 4th, looks to soar in year-end awards categories. Director Jim Sheridan is a longtime Academy Awards favorite and there has been sometimes vocal, enthusiastic reaction at screenings of this intense, incredibly dramatic but dramatically credible remake of a 2004 Danish film of the same name. It helps that the cast, child actors who have grown up before our eyes and are now playing adults, are at the top of their game: Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. I thought a day later of the impact James Dean, Natalie Wood and Sal Mineo had in “Rebel Without a Cause” and I don’t the comparison is far-fetched here.

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“Brothers” looks to be a natural for nominations as Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay for David Benioff, Best Actor for Maguire, Best Supporting Actor for Gyllenhaal and Best Supporting Actress for Portman who has never looked more beautiful nor been more affecting.