Brotherhood - The Complete First Season | 
| Directors: Nick Gomez, Brian Kirk (iii)
Studio: Showtime Ent.
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $19.39
You Save: $10.59 (35%)
New (44) Used (18) Collectible (1) from $18.78
Avg. Customer Rating:  46 reviews
Sales Rank: 1778
Format: Ac-3, Box Set, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 583
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.9
MPN: 850784
UPC: 097368507845
EAN: 0097368507845
ASIN: B000GH3CWK
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Release Date: September 26, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A working-class Irish family is torn between right and wrong when two brothers live out their destinies on opposite sides of the law. BROTHERHOOD tells the story of two brothers who sometimes share a twisted sense of moral compromise--each with his own skewed idealistic vision of what makes the American dream. System Requirements:Run Time: 583 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 097368507845 Manufacturer No: 850784
Amazon.com
This riveting Showtime series puts a familial spin on Angels with Dirty Faces, the 1938 James Cagney-Pat O'Brien classic in which two childhood friends take divergent paths--one becomes a priest, and the other a hoodlum. In Brotherhood, Michael Caffee (Jason Clarke) is an idealistic and respectable Rhode Island state representative dedicated to the preservation of his close-knit lower-middle-class Irish neighborhood, the Hill. His older brother, Michael (Jason Isaacs), is a gangster who returns home after a seven-year absence (one step ahead of a hit, two steps ahead of the Feds) to pick up where he left off. The stage is set for backroom skullduggery and mean streets thuggery, as both men pursue their visions of the American dream on opposite sides of the law. At the heart of this series is the conflict between the estranged brothers. With the exception of clueless matriarch MaryRose (Fionnula Flanagan), Michael is not exactly received with open arms. "You're a tornado," Tommy tells him early on. "You suck everything in and spit it out broken." Indeed, the man is a psychopath. When a henchman of neighborhood mob boss Freddie Cork (Kevin Chapman) threatens a woman, Michael not only repeatedly bashes his head against a car, but for the coup de grace, cuts off his ear. In one gut-wrenching scene, he compels a woman to sell him her store by inducing her mentally challenged brother to play Russian Roulette. No wonder Tommy insists, "We're not the same in any way." But don't be too sure. Michael is a good man and devoted father and husband, but he isn't above (or beneath) using Michael's inside information to blackmail a stubborn colleague who won't vote his way on a freeway project that could destroy the Hill. As the season unfolds, he will be forced to make more ethically challenged deals with the powers behind the scenes, one of whom has a mysterious connection with his mother. Brotherhood mines the clash between personal and professional lives to flesh out its characters. "The people's business" doesn't pay well, and Tommy is forced to moonlight as a real estate developer, and perform all home repairs. Eileen (Annabeth Gish), his picture-perfect politician's wife, smokes pot and is having an affair with a man she knew in high school. Declan Gigg (Ethan Embry) is a conflicted policeman who grew up with the Caffees. Comparisons with The Sopranos are inevitable, but Brotherhood quickly establishes its own unique voice, if not accent. --Donald Liebenson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 41 more reviews...
 A rare, "off-your-radar" series October 7, 2008
Wow, what a season. After finishing S1 of Brotherhood, I can fully appreciate what it truly is, that being one of the strongest shows out today.
Initially, it seemed a mish-mash of The Wire, The Sopranos, and a little dash of The Shield (and I'm not saying I don't love each of those series as well, but I wasnt feeling anything "new"), but it has developed into its own powerful entity that is almost completely independent of anything else.
This has turned into one of my favorite shows - the depth of acting and the complete lack of judgement about the actions of the players. Jason Isaacs is amazing, as the psychotic yet loyal gangster, and Kevin Chapman is pure, vicious evil as the mob boss Freddie. Acting is Brotherhood's strong point, and it is refreshing to find a show so well put together, and a shame that we as viewers don't find this often, or demand that drama have this kind of character development.
A truly 5-star show.
Complex and Riveting Cable Drama August 2, 2008
Ever since I started working in television back in summer 2000, my actual TV viewing for leisure has become rare. It's not by choice, but a problem with time. I actually love the boob tube, and occasionally I catch a show or two when I get the chance. But many viewers and critics argue that pay cable television is where today's best programs are. That is where a major problem lies for me. I've been on the outs with pay cable for many years now.
Then came the recent TV on DVD explosion. Now I'm catching up.
The first season of Showtime's Brotherhood aired in summer 2006. Since the DVD set was released in late September of the same year, the cable giant wasted no time in putting this into the hands of fans and newcomers like me. It is a smart move. With 11 good episodes and a cliffhanger season ender, it almost makes me want to subscribe to Showtime just to see how the story resolves.
The show follows the lives of two brothers in the Providence, Rhode Island Irish-American neighborhood known as "The Hill". It's a blue-collar neighborhood with roots in old-world ways of street justice and shady dealings. Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) is a family man and local politician who is out to protect the community and its best interests. His world is turned around when his gangster brother Michael (Jason Isaacs) returns to "The Hill" after a seven-year absence to regain control of the seedy underworld.
Many reviewers have compared the show to The Sopranos, describing it as a "lower-middle class" Sopranos. That may be a perfect comparison, but I have never watched the Emmy-winning former, so I haven't the basis to make such comparison. But the drama is good. The writing and performances make you question who the 'good' guys and 'bad' guys really are. You actually root for Michael (the murderous gangster brother) just as much as you root for Tommy.
Freddie Cork (Kevin Chapman) is the heart of the underworld on "The Hill" and employs Michael after he returns. It's Freddie and his unlawful band of henchmen, along with Michael Caffee and sidekick Pete, who twist facts, make shady deals and murder all in the name of money and power. Cork owns a local bar which serves as the central headquarters for all this 'business'; and it's Cork who provides a major thrust in the series, creating an apex of evil that's both charming and sinister.
But to discount the rest of the storylines and downplay the colorful cast of supporting characters would be a shame. Younger brother Tommy has his own battles to win as a junior member of the state senate representing the Hill. Though steeped in moral values and full of integrity, he doesn't always make the moral decision you'd expect and often looks like his brother when working the political machine to achieve personal gain. He is basically clueless when it comes to his family's needs. His beautiful wife is addicted to alcohol and drugs and his 13-year old daughter has struggles of her own.
Rounding out the show with complex storylines of their own are local state cops Declan and Ralph, the former a friend of the Caffee brothers since his youth. Actress Fionnula Flanagan plays the Caffee's mother, a tough-minded, hard working woman who would rather turn the other cheek to her son's downfalls.
There are too many storylines and characters to list here but it's great storytelling for fans of recent crime and drama genres that are displayed proudly on pay cable television, where there are no barriers on content and creative freedom is at its maximum. Brotherhood is a hard working, gritty crime drama worthy of joining the club. I can't wiat for Season Two.
(originally posted at my website: jasonhink.com)
a great show of family July 9, 2008
Brotherhood is was of the best television shows that has come out recently. I was a big fan of the Sopranos and they are not alike. Jason Clark and Anna Beth Gish are fantastic as the troubled wife and ambitious politician. Jason Isaacs however is brilliant in his part. People need to understand that they are developing his character. This is only the first season and he is working his way up the food chain. People critisize this show because Jason Isaacs part is not tough enough and should already have taken over, but give it time. This is street crime at its best. The Italian mafia is its own thing, and Soprano pretty much started out on top. Here we get to watch the lead evil brother develope. On the other had we also get to see the good politian brother show that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Although he believes he is righteous, we can see throughout the season he also is devoloping into his ouw monster. This show is outstanding and i hope the second season delivers.
Love this show!!!!! July 6, 2008
Love the characters and story line. Couldn't wait to see the next episode. That is another good reason for getting the seasons. You don't have to wait from week to week.
 brotherhood July 3, 2008
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
the brotherhood series i enjoy but the dvd 3 set i purchased was faulty.
I shall be looking around at other sites in future.
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