"Brotherhood" (2006) TV series 2006-2008

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Creator:

Blake Masters

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

The city has two sons. Only one can rule The Hill.

Plot:

Set in an Irish neighbourhood in Providence, the series reflects around two brothers on opposite sides of the law: one a gangster (Jason Isaacs) and the other a politician (Jason Clarke).

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Irish | Politician | Violence | Profanity

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Jason Isaacs	...	Michael Caffee (29 episodes, 2006-2008)
Jason Clarke	...	Tommy Caffee (29 episodes, 2006-2008)
Annabeth Gish	...	Eileen Caffee (29 episodes, 2006-2008)
Kevin Chapman	...	Freddie Cork / ... (29 episodes, 2006-2008)
Fiona C. Erickson	...	Mary Rose Caffee (26 episodes, 2006-2008)
Brian Scannell	...	Silent John (25 episodes, 2006-2008)
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Rose Caffee (22 episodes, 2006-2008)
Kerry O'Malley	...	Mary Kate Martinson / ... (22 episodes, 2006-2008)
Madison Garland	...	Lila Caffee / ... (21 episodes, 2006-2008)
Billy Smith	...	Kevin 'Moe' Reilly / ... (20 episodes, 2006-2008)
Ethan Embry	...	Declan Giggs / ... (19 episodes, 2006-2008)
Brian F. O'Byrne	...	Colin (18 episodes, 2007-2008)
Tina Benko	...	Kath Parry / ... (18 episodes, 2006-2008)
Kailey Gilbert	...	Noni Caffee (16 episodes, 2006-2008)
Matt Servitto	...	Representative Donatello (15 episodes, 2006-2008)
Frank Ridley	...	Terry Mulligan (15 episodes, 2006-2008)
John Fiore	...	Nozzoli / ... (14 episodes, 2006-2008)
Georgia Lyman	...	Cassie Giggs (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Karl Bury	...	Alex Byrne / ... (13 episodes, 2006-2007)

Also Known As:

Down City (USA) (working title)
The Hill (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (some episodes) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | USA:TV-MA | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Barrington, Rhode Island, USA

Company:

Gangtackle Productions

Trivia:

Kevin Chapman who plays Freddie Cork was discovered by the late Director Ted Demme while working in the City Of Boston Film Office.

A series done well

I got this series on DVD and didn't care for it very much the first time I watched it. I saw it a second time with my family and it grew on me. None of the characters are particularly likable or decent people, but I think that might have been the intention of the writers. The actors do a great job of showing the dishonesty, violence, and petty misery of the characters. The only character who sometimes comes across as remotely likable is Tommy.

Jason Isaacs and Jason Clarke are excellent as the brothers, though I wonder why American actors weren't cast in the roles. Having said that, if not for Jason Isaacs I wouldn't have watched this series at all. I've seen several of his movies and have never been disappointed. Fionnula Flanagan is excellent as the controlling mother. She's so realistic that I almost forget she is acting. The scenes with Rose and her sons are among the best in the series because the three actors seem to work so well together. Kevin Chapman also gives a great performance as Freddi Cork. Both Chapman and Isaacs have done an outstanding job of portraying characters you love to hate.

I have lived in New England all my life and was curious to hear the accents in this series. While I've certainly heard worse, most (not all) of the regular actors didn't fully capture the accent. Close, but not quite. Still the accents didn't detract from the series. Paddy's mother in the first episode sounded truly authentic. I do not generally like shows about politics and organized crime, but in this case I will probably watch season two.

If you haven't seen Brotherhood yet, give it a try.