The Brothers (2001/I)

Director:

Gary Hardwick

Writer (WGA):

Gary Hardwick (written by)

Release Date:

23 March 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Refusing To Exhale

Plot:

Four friends begin to question women and relationships when one of them announces impending nuptials.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | African American | Basketball | Father Son Relationship | Music

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Morris Chestnut	...	Jackson Smith
D.L. Hughley	...	Derrick West
Bill Bellamy	...	Brian Palmer
Shemar Moore	...	Terry White
Gabrielle Union	...	Denise Johnson
Tatyana Ali	...	Cherie Smith
Jenifer Lewis	...	Louise Smith
Tamala Jones	...	Sheila West
Clifton Powell	...	Fred Smith
Susan Dalian	...	BeBe Fales
Marla Gibbs	...	Mary West
Julie Benz	...	Jesse Caldwell
Vanessa Bell Calloway	...	Dr. Thelma Woolridge
Angelle Brooks	...	Judge Carla Williams
Kimberly Scott	...	Redena's Mom
Aloma Wright	...	Helen Palmer
Sean P. Young	...	Tyrel Palmer
Nicole Cummins	...	Female Bailiff
Kim Porter	...	Sandra the Temp
Tanya Wright	...	LaMuzindah
Gary Hardwick	...	T-Boy
Nadege Auguste	...	Ursula
Nayo Wallace	...	Red the Stripper
Henry Kingi Jr.	...	Ceyno, the Multi-Ethic Lover
Buddy Lewis	...	Steve on the Strip (as Roland 'Buddy' Lewis)
Redena Bivins	...	Spurned Woman
Darin Scott	...	Derrick's Attorney
Nikki Thompson	...	Bartender
Marie Frazier	...	Sista at Wedding
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Cedi Ali Rajah	...	Wedding Saxophonist (uncredited)
Paulo Pascoal	...	Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Gary Hardwick

Writing credits (WGA)
Gary Hardwick		(written by)

Produced by
Paddy Cullen	....	producer
Paddy Cullin	....	producer
Doug McHenry	....	executive producer
Darin Scott	....	producer

Original Music by
Marcus Miller

Cinematography by
Alexander Gruszynski

Film Editing by
Earl Watson

Casting by
Reuben Cannon

Production Design by
Amy B. Ancona		(as Amy Ancona)

Art Direction by
Austin Gorg

Set Decoration by
Melissa M. Levander		(as Melissa Levander)

Costume Design by
Debrae Little

Makeup Department
Stacye P. Branche	....	makeup department head
Jasmine Kimble	....	hair stylist
Kimberly Kimble	....	key hair stylist
JoAnn Stafford-Chaney	....	key hair stylist
Brian A. Tunstall	....	hair department head

Production Management
Paddy Cullen	....	unit production manager
Kevin Halloran	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason George	....	assistant director
Donald Sparks	....	first assistant director
Rebecca Strickland	....	second assistant director
Wayne Witherspoon	....	assistant director

Art Department
Todd Ellis	....	property master
Nicole Gorg	....	art department coordinator
Charisse St. Amant	....	painter
Eric Steinway	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Javier Bennassar	....	sound effects editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
Susan Cahill	....	foley editor (as Susan Gamsaragan)
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Jason George	....	sound designer
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor
Patrick Giraudi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carrie Lisonbee	....	sound effects editor (as Carrie Tippets)
Michael McNerney	....	foley artist
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby

Stunts
Julius LeFlore	....	stunt coordinator
Robert Powell	....	utility stunts
April Weeden-Washington	....	stunt double: Angelle Brooks

Camera and Electrical Department
Kim Cousins	....	assistant camera
Nicola Goode	....	still photographer
Kevin Haggerty	....	camera
Emil Hampton	....	first assistant camera
Dennis J. Lootens	....	lighting technician
Juan Morse	....	electrician
Jeff Murrell	....	gaffer
Steve Reinhardt	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Henry Tirl	....	Steadicam operator
Henry Tirl	....	camera operator: "a" camera

Casting Department
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting
Ayo Davis	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Artemio Carpio	....	costumer
Conan Castro Jr.	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gail DuFosse	....	assistant editor (as Gail du Fossé)
Chris Mistorni	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Michele Aristy	....	score assistant
Jay Bolton	....	music editor
Joe Guthrie	....	music coordinator
Pilar McCurry	....	executive soundtrack producer
David Shaw	....	composer: additional music
Melodee Sutton	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Geno Hart	....	transportation coordinator
Steve Larson	....	transportation dispatcher
Adam Pinkstaff	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Cedi Ali Rajah	....	office production assistant (as Cedi Snowden)
Derek Avila	....	assistant location manager
Theodore Borders	....	adr loop group (as Theo Borders)
June Christopher	....	adr loop group
Michael Coleman	....	basketball consultant
Ava DuVernay	....	publicity consultant
Russ Fega	....	location manager
Mel C. Ferrer	....	assistant: Paddy Cullen
Marie Frazier	....	assistant: Gary Hardwick and Darin Scott
Jamala Gaither	....	key set production assistant (as Jamala Gaither Brown)
Kerry Gutierrez	....	adr loop group
Wendy Hoffman	....	adr loop group
Rif Hutton	....	adr loop group
Venus Kanani	....	assistant production coordinator
Jason Z. Kemp	....	set production assistant
Daniel A. Mondschain	....	office production assistant
Monica Muehlhause-Horn	....	production accountant
Cindy Nevins	....	payroll accountant
Paula Newsome	....	adr loop group
Jonathan Nichols	....	adr loop group
Devika Parikh	....	adr loop group
Greg Poland	....	adr loop group
Michele Robertson	....	unit publicist
Bumper Robinson	....	adr loop group
Deandre 'Silky' Russell	....	set production assistant (as De-Andre 'Silky' Russell)
Lissette Schettini	....	office production assistant
Dan Schlaack	....	production coordinator
Jasan Sherman	....	key assistant location manager
Timothy P. Tundel	....	first assistant accountant
Kenny Vasquez	....	set production assistant

Production Companies

• Screen Gems

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Screen Gems (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• WB Television Network, The (2004) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (VHS)
• Egmont Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Hyperactive Broadcast  editing equipment
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Hannibal Studios  score recording facility
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content and language.

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36617)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Screen Gems

Quotes:

Jackson Smith: I know love's supposed to be this beautiful thing, but I just can't get with it. I go up, love goes down. I go left, love goes right. I say I'm ready, love says "Not yet, Jackson, she dated your father." Maybe there is love out there, but it's running from me. I can't keep chasing it.

Movie Connections:

References The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Soundtrack:

I'm Through

Props to the middle class "black" man

I agree with the user who said that the low rating of this fine film could be due to the fact that a number of white viewers are unused to the portrayal of black males as normal, upwardly mobile Americans. The black middle class is treated as nonexistent in real life and the focus is on economically and educationally disadvantaged members. That seems to be the image most Americans are comfortable with and find acceptable. There have been black doctors and lawyers for decades now so there is nothing unusual or new about these young men's careers or lifestyles.

Having said that, I'm glad to see black men portrayed in a normal, honest, and introspective light. We've all known young men like this but as females, we weren't privy to their private conversations. It is refreshing to know that they have worries, problems, and as many insecurities as their female counterparts and feel comfortable enough to voice them with each other.

It felt good to hear another "brother" chiding one of his friends for always referring to women as bitches, and pointing out that there was something wrong with HIM, not the women he was attempting to demean. I also liked the fact that Jessie let Brian know that ALL women expect good treatment and respect from a man and that she was no more willing to put up with his shallow, immature behavior than a black woman would. I don't think she was a ditz at all and she didn't take any mess from Judge Carla either.

Maybe one day soon we can have a movie about middle class black people without making a big deal over their race and view it as just a middle class "people" movie.

All of the "brothers" learned something about themselves and grew as men and individuals.

I thought Jenifer Lewis was exceptional in this part and I'm not even a fan. She was so convincing that I actually believed she was Louise. She was a strong, outspoken female who was a good wife and mother. She fought for what she wanted. She wanted her husband back and she got him too - and even got "ole boy" to have a second wedding at that! I found Jackson's parents relationship more interesting than his and Denise's. I was rooting for the mom and dad to get back together and I really didn't care if he and Denise did.