"The Sisters Brothers"

The Sisters Brothers is a Western film starring John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix as the eponymous Sisters Brothers, feared assassins who work for the wealthy Commodore. The two are tasked with hunting down a gold prospector, Hermann Warm (Riz Ahmed), and a detective, John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal).

I loved how the film forces the viewer to question the assumptions of the genre, and reframes the typical conventions of the Western by depicting its conflict as one where the supposed heroes are clearly ruthless murderers, and the employer they work for is gradually shown to have ulterior motives initially unknown to the brothers. I also really love the contrast between the more kindhearted and caring Eli (Reilly) and the brutish and greedy thug that is Charlie. 

For much of the film, while Eli and especially Charlie are clearly in the wrong in their ceaseless pursuit, there isn't really a traditional villain, as all four central characters have their own sympathetic moments and even the worst of them, Charlie, isn't really villainous, just trapped by his own traumatic past and not knowing what else to do with his life. The climactic scenes highlight each central character's flaws beautifully, as the four central protagonists clash against each other over their philosophies and differing personalities. 

The film also has a sense of humor about it, though fittingly for a film like this, its laughs are rooted in dark comedy, found in even the most dire situations depicted in the film, and the humorous moments are depicted in such a casual manner that it might not even register until moments later.

The film is brilliant in its examination of traditional Western morality, with four very different protagonists, ranging from an idealistic prospector to a brutish thug, all having their own sympathetic moments that affirms their humanity, and how one simple decision made on a whim can alter the course of events dramatically, elevated by great performances from all four lead actors.

This is a very cerebral Western where the action takes a backseat to deep explorations of the characters, and their hopes and dreams amidst the violent chaos of their lives. 9/10! You'll love it if you love Westerns, especially more subversive ones.