brotherly love movie review

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Brotherly love, common sense media reviewers.

Poignant family drama has violence, trauma, language.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Family members look out for each other. Hard work

June lives a gangster life involving crime and vio

The cast is almost entirely Black, and the setting

Inner-city Philadelphia and the famous Overbrook H

Teenagers have sex, resulting in unplanned pregnan

Swearing and slang are used throughout the film, i

Car and clothing brands are seen, especially on sn

Characters deal drugs, a widowed mother drinks and

Parents need to know that Brotherly Love , a Philadelphia-set story executive produced by Queen Latifah, turns on teen siblings surrounded by violence, crime, and poverty. The main characters lost their father, have seen their mother become an alcoholic, and live off the earnings of their gangster older…

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Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Brotherly Love , a Philadelphia-set story executive produced by Queen Latifah , turns on teen siblings surrounded by violence, crime, and poverty. The main characters lost their father, have seen their mother become an alcoholic, and live off the earnings of their gangster older brother. Theirs is a world of constant tension, street fights, crime, and murders. The film shows people shooting and getting shot; many die. The cast is majority Black and uses slang. Language includes "f--k," the "N" word, "s--t," "damn," "ass," "hell," "bitch," "d--khead," and "hoes." Teenagers have sex (not shown beyond kissing and suggestive gestures), resulting in unplanned pregnancies. Characters deal drugs, a widowed mother drinks and smokes all day, a girl wears a shirt with a pot leaf on it, and teens drink alcohol at a party. The teen characters learn that hard work pays off and success has to be earned, not taken. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : April 23, 2015
• Cast : Keke Palmer , Cory Hardrict , Quincy Brown
• Director : Jamal Hill
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Netflix
• Genre : Drama
• Topics : Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , High School
• Run time : 87 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : violence and language
• Last updated : August 31, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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Boyz n the Hood

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REVIEW: ‘Brotherly Love’ Fails To Have Same Impact As ‘Boyz N The Hood’

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Word on the “Black cinema” streets is that Brotherly Love is the new Juice or Boyz N The Hood . Based on the trailer, the homage is clear with its cute homegirls, shady drug dealers and “a dollar and a dream” prototypes. The elements are there to make  Brotherly Love a potential successor. But as much as you’ll want to laud Jamal Hill ‘s passion project, it will not be as iconic as the films before it. With hopes of a dual fanbase from the Instagram generation and original movie-goers of  Menace II Society,  the film transpires more as a tribute than a true slice of life as a Black youth in 2015.

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It took almost ten years for Brotherly Love to come to life until Queen Latifah ‘s Flavor Unit gave the green light. As the title suggests, it takes place in Philadelphia, but in the Western region which is notoriously more crime and drug-ridden. The focus is on the Taylor family. Their mother (played by Macy Gray , always fantastic in her acting roles) chain smokes home all-day and the eldest child June ( Cory Hardrict ) is the sole provider and guidance for his teen siblings. Sergio ( Eric D. Hill Jr. ) is a talented basketball player eying the NBA and baby of the family Jackie ( Keke Palmer ) is a good girl amongst the fast streets and aspires to be a singer.

Jackie’s presence is a distinct highlight because, while early ’90s Black films definitely had female characters, they weren’t always as fleshed out or as prominent as the men. Some exceptions include  Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric in 1994’s Jason’s Lyric and the leading cast of 1996’s Set It Off . And speaking of that ’94 film, it looks like we’ve found our new Allen Payne . As the Jason to Palmer’s Lyric, Quincy Brown (yes, Diddy’s step-son and Al B. Sure ‘s offspring) is Chris Collins in Brotherly Love . And while unaware of his intentions at first with Jackie, the two form a puppy-love bond and Brown is 100% swoon-worthy nearly every time he’s on-screen.

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

Aside from that teen dream inclusion, the script is formulaic. Like its predecessors, it tries to tackle the issues of brotherhood and loyalty in the Black community. Former events are explained throughout the film and the Taylor siblings experience a whirlwind of achievement, revenge and death. June is determined to make sure his siblings stay on the right path, but he himself behaves as if he’s a lost cause. At his core, he is heartbroken because once their father had passed away, he abandoned his own hoop dreams to become a drug dealer. Hardrict plays his role like it’s his coming-out party (he recently starred in  Clint Eastwood ‘s American Sniper).  And there are relics to the characters of Bishop and “Doughboy” famously played by Tupac Shakur and  Ice Cube in Juice and  Boyz N The Hood .

Generally speaking, the acting is standard in Brotherly Love.  There are minor heartfelt moments and one particular twist and shocker that will make any suspense screenwriter nod with approval. There isn’t much to criticize the script for aside from its familiar territory.

What  Brotherly Love lacks, however, is that documentary-style sensibility that dominated those 90s classic. Films like Juice  and Menace II Society  effortlessly connected to the current events of its day and even the local lifestyle and jargon of New York City or South Central L.A. were included as supporting characteristics. John Singleton ‘s Boyz N The Hood , an impressively-layered take on Black-on-Black crime and police brutality in South Central, arrived just four months after  Rodney King  was viciously beaten by four White policemen on an L.A. highway in 1991. Singleton wasn’t merely imitating life in his art. His film further analyzed it. And the timing was remarkable. Brotherly Love  barely contributes anything new to the storytelling of inner-city life. To target this movie as the new generation’s Boyz, Juice, or Menace  is unfair and places it in a space that’s already been so culturally and significantly defined.

Brotherly Love attempted to be the film of our current time frame of “Black Lives Matters.” But we are still in search or waiting for that one film so honest and unique to the life as a Black girl or boy in the 21st century.

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Summary Set in West Philadelphia, born-and-raised basketball star Sergio Taylor (Eric D. Hill Jr.) deals with the early pressures of fame. Alongside older brother June (Cory Hardrict), who lost his own hoop dreams to the streets to provide for the family after their father's death, and sister Jackie (KeKe Palmer), whose own musical ambitions are ... Read More

Directed By : Jamal Hill

Written By : Jamal Hill

Brotherly Love

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Keke Palmer

Cory hardrict, romeo miller, eric d. hill jr., mrs. taylor, quincy brown, chris collins, faizon love, logan browning, overbrook coach, justin martin, marc john jefferies, nafessa williams, julito mccullum, chris jarell, adam ratcliffe, officer williams, lawrence robinson, kid 1 at party, avery millwood, black policeman, shannon mayfield, critic reviews.

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Brotherly Love

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Keke Palmer (Jackie) Cory Hardrict (June) Romeo Miller (Sean) Eric D. Hill Jr. (Sergio) Macy Gray (Mrs. Taylor) Quincy Brown (Chris Collins) Faizon Love (Uncle Ron) Logan Browning (Trina) Malik Yoba (Overbrook Coach) Justin Martin (Dez)

Set on the backdrop of Philadelphia's famed Overbrook High School, we track the lives of the nations number one high school basketball player Sergio Taylor as he deals with the early pressures of hood fame.

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• Brotherly Love is not based on a true story, but director Jamal Hill drew inspiration from his upbringing in Philadelphia to create the characters and the tale.
• The film has been compared to 1990s classics like Boyz N The Hood and Menace II Society, and though it was not a box office success, it has gained a new audience on Netflix.
• Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, where the film was partially filmed, has a history of producing famous actors and basketball stars, adding to the speculation that the movie may be based on real-life events.

Brotherly Love depicts the story of three siblings — Sergio, June, and Jackie — as they navigate their different paths in life, and after watching the intense movie, it's easy to wonder about the inspiration behind the film. The 2015 drama stars Eric D. Hill Jr. as Sergio, Cory Hardrict as June, Keke Palmer as Jackie, Quincy Brown as Chris, Romeo Miller as Sean, and Macy Gray as Mrs. Taylor. June is the oldest sibling and once had a promising basketball career ahead of him before that was taken from him when his, Sergio, and Jackie's father died. Meanwhile, the twins, Sergio and Jackie, dream of making it big (in basketball and music, respectively).

Brotherly Love was partially filmed at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where the feature film took place. Overbrook High School is a real-life institution notable for producing famous actors like Will Smith and future basketball stars like Wilt Chamberlain, Wayne Hightower, and more. So, it is not surprising that some believe the 2015 drama movie could be based on a true story. However, that is not the case for Brotherly Love ​​​​​.

Brotherly Love Is Not Based On A True Story

Jamal Hill, the director and writer of Brotherly Love , did not base his 2015 film on one particular true story. June, Sergio, and Jackie are not actual people, and Hill has not revealed whether any of the characters in the movie are based on real-life figures. However, Hill admitted that he was inspired by his upbringing in Philadelphia to craft the characters and the story in the drama movie. Hill mostly grew up in New York before his parents split up, and he moved to Philadelphia with his mother when he was a junior in high school. During an interview with Times Union in 2015, the filmmaker revealed:

"It's largely autobiographical, a bird's-eye view of people I knew and experiences I had. It's not linear, and it's been fictionalized, but it's based on real-life events."

Related: Keke Palmer's 10 Best Movies, According To Letterboxd

Brotherly Love Has Been Compared To 1990s Movies Like Boyz N The Hood & Menace II Society

Brotherly Love only made $478,595 at the box office (against a budget of $1.9 million, making it a box office bomb) following its limited theatrical release on April 24, 2015. But the film has an audience score of 78 percent on Rotten Tomatoes as of the writing of this article, and it is gaining a new audience via its addition to Netflix's streaming library. Plus, a handful of reviews at the time of the movie's release compared it to critically acclaimed films such as Boyz n the Hood and Menace II Society . So, even though Brotherly Love did not receive much love at the box office, audiences still enjoyed it.

Source: Times Union

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‘Brotherly Love’ Tells The Story About Balancing Sexuality And Religion – Movie Review

If you have been meaning to add a new title to your lgbtq+ movies list, i recommend checking out the award-winning comedy brotherly love from writer and director anthony j. caruso. it tells the story of brother vito as he tries to find a balance between being true to himself and having religion be a part of his life. brotherly love was shown at the laemmle music hall in los angeles on august 3, 2018, with a dvd/vod release on august 7, 2018..

I was provided a screener of ‘Brotherly Love’ for review by Breaking Glass Pictures . The opinions are my own.

Brotherly Love is based on Salvatore Sapienza’s novel Seventy Times Seven . The film’s world premiere was at the “Glitter Oklahoma LGBT Film Festival” where it won Best Picture. It was the official selection for the “Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival” as well as the “Nevada International Film Festival” (where it won Best Feature Film). Give it up for queer talent making queer films for a community that deserves representation !

Here’s the official synopsis:

Which call do you answer? The one you feel from God or the one you feel about your authentic self? This is the dillema at hand for Brother Vito (played by writer/director Anthony J. Caruso) as he must decide between becoming a Brother or declaring his love for Gabe (Derek Babb). Shot entirely in Austin, TX and with a local cast and crew, Brotherly Love is a fresh take on the traditional gay love story.

The cast includes Anthony J. Caruso, Derek Babb, Chance McKee, David Blackwell ( Boyhood , Dazed and Confused ).

Check out the trailer!

There is a lot I enjoyed about Brotherly Love . Anthony J. Caruso wore a lot of hats for this project. Along with penning down the movie and directing it, Caruso also plays Vito Fortunato. Our lead seems to be happy about becoming a Brother even though he is gay. However, things change when he ends up meeting Gabe. The encounter forces Vito to rethink his priorities. Does he answer God’s call and leave the man he loves behind? Or does he give his relationship with Gabe a chance? Vito is a likable lead and I think his struggle will resonate with many.

Derek Babb brought a cute innocence to Gabe which I appreciated. He has been through some issues in his life and is slowly trying to become a more open person. His entire character is very cute and I believed him being a big romantic. Also, a scene near the end of the movie had me really worried and I actually let out a sigh of relief when everything played out the way it did. You will know what I’m talking about when you see it.

I also liked Vito’s best friend Tim (Chance McKee). He might come across as a bit stereotypical to some, but I enjoyed his scenes. David Blackwell’s Joseph also had some good lines about living life to the fullest when you have the chance. However, as far my opinion goes, there were a couple of supporting characters (Vito’s summer housemates) that could have been more fleshed out. I also wouldn’t have minded seeing Vito helping around the house during the summer. Also, the lesbian couple that showed up felt random even though one of them had some good advice for Vito.

Having said that, the good news is  Brotherly Love isn’t your typical depressing queer movie talking about the subject of sexuality and religion. The message behind Caruso’s film is how your faith and your sexuality can co-exist. Many members of the LGBTQIA+ community still experience a lot of oppression, being forced to choose between their sexuality or their faith. They aren’t given the option of having both in their lives. I don’t know when things will change, but it is good to see a film like Brotherly Love reaching out to people and letting them know it is okay to be true to yourself and holding on to the faith you have.

I recommend watching Brotherly Love , and I hope to see Caruso continuing writing and directing more projects.

If you have watched Brotherly Love already, let us know what you thought of it.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

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Brotherly Love Reviews

The film's heart may be in the right place and it isn't necessarily an unholy mess. But a visit to church would probably still be more fulfilling.

Full Review | Oct 8, 2020

The inept, painfully overlong "Brotherly Love" is a film so seemingly taken with its own endlessly campy, corny and clichéd self that, at nearly two hours, it contains maybe 30 minutes of flab.

Full Review | Aug 2, 2018

Brotherly Love (2016)

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Brotherly Love (2018) Movie Review: Neither Heavenly nor Unholy

Based on the novel Seventy Times Seven by Salvatore Sapienza, Brotherly Love follows the story of Vito Fortunato (Anthony J. Caruso), a seminarian in the Catholic Church who must decide between his religious vows of chastity and his sexual freedom before becoming a Brother. Contributing to his dilemma is both his sex-crazed partner Tim (Chance McKee) and a landscaper named Gabe (Derek Babb) whom Vito falls in love with while away at a retreat.

When Vito first meets Gabe, that is when the film kicks into high gear. That is in large part due to Derek Babb who gives a performance of subtle charisma and depth. Also, while the rest of the film features rather flamboyant gay characters, Babb gives a portrayal that is less stereotypical. Gabe may be someone who’s at peace with his sexuality yet he’s hardly in your face about it.

On the contrary, Chance McKee is more energetic and flamboyant as Vito’s partner Tim. However, McKee still attempts to make Tim feel like a character rather than a caricature. Tim may be someone who talks about his sexual escapades nonstop. Yet even though his bragging and his bickering with Vito make it evident that the two of them aren’t compatible, he still cares deeply about Vito staying true to himself and his desires.

As for the rest of the film, it does make an admirable attempt to shatter stereotypes involving both religion and its setting. Despite it being set in Texas, a state with a conservative reputation, there aren’t any patronizing scenes of prejudice thrown in to give the film political urgency. Also, it doesn’t depict the conflict of staying true to one’s religious vows in a super serious and dour manner. In fact, our main character is reminded by those around him that it’s okay to both stay true to God and be true to what his heart wants.

It’s an earnest message being told in a rather flawed film. For a film that attempts to shatter stereotypes, it still presents cliched stereotypes of the queer community. Aside from Gabe, most of the characters are super flamboyant with their high-pitched voices and they constantly reference gay icons like The Golden Girls and Barbra Streisand. In fact, about half the dialogue consists of pop-culture references which got old very fast.

The screenplay was written by lead actor Anthony J. Caruso who helmed it as well. As it turns out, he seems better suited behind the camera because his acting in front of the camera is rather stiff. As previously mentioned, the film kicks into high gear when Vito meets Gabe but that’s mainly due to the strength of Derek Babb’s performance.

Along with its simplistic message of staying true to your heart, both Derek Babb and Chance McKee are able to salvage some greatness out of Brotherly Love . The film’s heart may be in the right place and it isn’t necessarily an unholy mess. But a visit to church would probably still be more fulfilling.

Matthew St.Clair

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Brotherly love.

Directed by Anthony J. Caruso

When Sabbatical Meets Soulmate...

A Brother in the Catholic Church must choose between his vow of chastity and the man he loves.

Anthony J. Caruso Derek Babb Chance McKee David Blackwell Gerald Brodin Reece Everett Ryan Arthur Dale Brooks Ryan

Director Director

Anthony J. Caruso

Releases by Date

10 sep 2017, releases by country.

119 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Christopher Velasco ★

Anthony J. Caruso stars, writes, edits, produces and directs himself as a Brother who is close to becoming a priest.

The character of Vito (Anthony J. Caruso) is so whiny and insufferable that you want to slap the Cher out of him. He and the other actors were giving their best 2000s gay movie dialogue.

At least the look of the film was decent. That is the best thing about it. Everything else was not good. Once you see a gay religious film, you have seen them all.

Just know Anthony J. Caruso was a producer on  First Period . What happened?

Review by BozoBubby ½ 1

Wife begged me to turn this off

Review by ventheven ½

bozo turned it off to soon i wanted to see more

Review by evan 🚬 ★½

the out of focus zoom on the framed photo of the pope... oh my god

Review by Beto Meza ★★½

If you follow me, you know how much I love this kind of indie, low-budgeted gay-themed movies. 'Brotherly Love' it's one perfect example. I feel that these are more real and portrait better the reality of the community, even if some of them are "tales of gay fiction" (I explain that term in my review of 'Big Eden').

This is a sweet, no fuss, little movie about a gay man going through a difficult life decision, to choose between love or his commitment to God. It's a simple storyline, yet the supporting characters are charming enough to keep you interested. I also loved all the "gay talk" included in the movie from their love for The Golden Girls and classic Hollywood movies.

Review by Robert Smith ★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

First things first... this movie needs a different title. This just isn't working. Second, I have seen this movie about three times and each time I forget what happened and hope for an ending that I am not going to get (more on that in a minute).

And the power rankings are:

Initial Reaction: 7/10 Replay-ability: 3/10 Plot: 2/10 Music: 2/10 Star Quality: 2/5 Intervention-ability: 2/5 Arbitration: 2

Total Score: 40%

Can I just start with the sound in this movie? The mixing is awful, the volume shifts depending on the number of characters on screen, not in the scene but physically on the screen.

Other than that, the juke at the end was uncalled for. They could have sped…

Review by Goober 3

another banger. another banger by Breaking Glass Pictures

Review by Summer ½

It's so badddd, I couldn't even finish it with 20 mins left

Review by darkherogoran ★★

are we really supposed to believe that mr middle part is a hot chunk or meat that everyone wants..? also if a middle part priest fucked me and dipped, I would Not take his ass back.

Review by Martin7 ★★★

AKA, Eddie and the Beans.

A lot of funny lines. Bumped up to 3 stars for Tim's humor, e.g. Cher's infomercial career.

Review by Joshua ★½

WHAT WAS THAT SEX SCENE? WHEN HE PULLED OUT THE XL CONDOMS, I GAGGED

Are they trying to say Neil Patrick Harris is a masc gay? Who wrote this?

DID THEY JUST PUT ALL THE GAY BROTHERS IN ONE HOUSE?

Review by RainbowGlasses ★½

Catholic Brother falls for hunky landscaper. Will he give up his vow of chastity? It’s never clear why the whiny protagonist joined the church in the first place. The actor hasn't the range to give his conflict any stakes.

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10 Hard-Hitting Family Dramas Like Brotherly Love

E ver since Brotherly Love first premiered in 2015, fans have flocked to the hard-hitting family drama. The film, which was written and directed by Jamal Hill, showcases the complexity of familial relationships, urban life and the relentless pursuit of the American dream . Starring Keke Palmer , Cory Hardrict, Romeo Miller, Quincy Brown, and comedian Faizon Love, Brotherly Love follows a West Philadelphia family struggling with loss, addiction, and poverty, as each of the children in the family attempts to navigate their way out of the hood.

Though the movie has developed a cult-like fan base, Brotherly Love failed to become a major cultural staple in cinema. Luckily, there are plenty of other films available to stream that showcase similar themes and environments. Here are 10 movies like Brotherly Love that you can watch today. 

10. Streets (2011) 

Like Brotherly Love , Streets was written and directed by Jamal Hill. The film carries with it similar themes and concepts to Hill’s 2015 feature, centering around a talented young woman with a bright and promising future, who gets dragged into the culture of the streets after falling in with the wrong crowd. Many films about the black experience in the United States offer a glimpse into the struggle to escape poverty and gang violence, but Streets has the unmistakable directing flair of Jamal Hill seen throughout sequences in Brotherly Love . The film stars Nafessa Williams, Marvin Warner, Chico Benymon, and Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill, and is a must watch for fans of Hill’s other directorial efforts. 

9. The Hate U Give (2018) 

The Hate U Give stars Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie, Issa Rae, and Chicago rapper Common. The film follows Starr Carter, a young woman who must balance her life between two wildly different worlds. Carter splits her time between her impoverished black neighborhood and the wealthy prep school where she attempts to use higher education as a means to escape from the hood. Like star basketball player Sergio from Brotherly Love , Carter’s attempts at securing a positive future for herself are threatened when violence impacts her loved ones. The Hate U Give offers a window into the all-too-common violence members of the black community face at the hands of the police, while highlighting generational struggles within black families. 

8. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) 

If Beale Street Could Talk is a romantic drama written and directed by Moonlight ’s Barry Jenkins, based on a novel of the same name by American author and civil rights leader James Baldwin. The film, which takes place in Harlem in the 1970s, centers on a black artist who is arrested and persecuted for a crime he did not commit. While films such as Brotherly Love and The Hate U Give focus on the impact that street life has on the black community, If Beale Street Could Talk highlights the plight which black Americans face within a police state, even when they are fully innocent. The film, and the novel upon which the film is based, serves as a stark reminder that racism within the United states is a pervasive beast. 

7. Fences (2016) 

Denzel Washington directed and starred in Fences , based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name written by August Wilson. The film follows a hard-working blue collar black man in 1950s Pittsburgh, whose dreams of becoming a professional baseball player never came to fruition. Due to a number of personal and environmental factors, the man, Troy Maxson, creates great tension within his family, including financial strain and marital infidelity. Fences examines generational trauma and the ripple effect that familial bitterness and financial stress can have on a family, while highlighting the strength of black women in the household. 

6. Precious (2009) 

Precious likely needs no introduction, as the massive film rapidly became a smash-hit upon release back in 2009. The film, which currently touts a 92 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, follows a young woman who struggles with multiple forms of horrific abuse in her home. When an opportunity to leave her life behind and follow a higher education arises, Claireece “Precious” Jones fears that she cannot rise to the occasion. Unlike the characters in Brotherly Love , Precious can’t even rely on her own family, as they are the source of her most horrific problems. Luckily, a stern teacher takes a special interest in the struggling teen, placing her on the right path. 

5. Won’t Back Down (2012) 

Won’t Back Down highlights the economic struggles which plague families from all backgrounds, by showcasing two women, played by Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal, who attempt against the odds to reform their community’s failing school system. Like Brotherly Love , the film highlights the importance of a proper education as a keystone in escaping poverty, as well as the external factors which prevent marginalized communities from getting ahead. 

4. Moonlight (2016) 

Like many films on this list, Moonlight is a film which focuses on the hardship of the black community, including poverty, gang activity, the prison-industrial complex, and complacent school systems. Unlike films such as Brotherly Love or Precious however, Moonlight highlights the additional struggle of homosexuality within the black community, as well as toxic masculinity. The film won Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards, despite a now-famous mix-up which saw the wrong movie announced first. In the near-decade since Moonlight was released, the film has become a certified classic for fans of African American films and LGBTQ+ representation alike. 

3. Above The Rim (1994) 

Starring the iconic rapper Tupac Shakur, Above The Rim follows a similar narrative to Brotherly Love , as the film centers on a rising high school basketball star who becomes unwillingly drawn into the life of gang violence due to his family ties. The film was written and directed by The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air writer Jeff Pollack, and also stars Duane Martin, Marlon Wayans, and the late comedian Bernie Mac. If you’re a younger fan of Brotherly Love , you would be well advised to give Above The Rim a shot, as the film is largely considered a classic with similar themes to the 2015 outing. 

2. Boyz N The Hood (1991) 

Another classic installment, 1991’s Boyz n The Hood carries similar themes and concepts to Brotherly Love and Above The Rim . The film centers on Tre, an at-risk youth growing up in a broken home in South Central Los Angeles. Tre’s hard-nosed father instills proper values within him, and encourages Tre to earn a college scholarship for his skills on the football field in order to escape from poverty. Unfortunately, the tendrils of life on the streets are pervasive, and criminal activity mires Tre’s friend group. The film features landmark performances from Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne, Nia Long, and legendary West coast rapper Ice Cube. 

1. Creed (2015) 

When searching for films similar to Brotherly Love , 2015’s Creed may just be the best possible answer. The now-iconic boxing film continues the Rocky franchise originally led by Sylvester Stallone throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Michael B. Jordan stars in the film as the son of famed boxer Apollo Creed, who wishes to utilize his skills in the ring to follow in his fathers’ footsteps. Many critics have actually criticized Brotherly Love for holding similarities to Creed , which is widely considered to be the superior of the two films, though they both premiered in the same year. The original 2015 film relaunched the long-running franchise, which is still spawning sequels today. The film combines elements of sports, family, and the black experience, for a near-perfect outing with a 95 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes .

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Amazon mgm picks up josh brolin, peter dinklage action comedy ‘brothers’ (exclusive).

The movie also stars Glenn Close and Brendan Fraser.

By Borys Kit

Senior Film Writer

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Brothers , the action comedy starring Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage , has found a home in Amazon MGM Studios.

The streaming giant has acquired the worldwide rights to the Legendary Pictures-made feature, setting both a theatrical and streaming release. The movie will be available to stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Oct. 17. That will be preceded by a big-screen release in select theaters starting Oct. 11.

Brothers  tells the story of a reformed criminal (Brolin) whose attempt at going straight is derailed when he reunites with his sanity-testing twin brother (Dinklage) on a road trip for the score of a lifetime. Dodging bullets, the law and an overbearing mother along the way, they must heal their severed family bond before they end up killing each other.

Max Barbakow directed the feature. Macon Blair wrote the screenplay from a story by Etan Cohen.

The film is produced by Andrew Lazar of Mad Chance, Brolin via his JB Productions, and Dinklage and his partner David Ginsberg via Estuary Films. Trish Stanard executive produced. 

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Leverkusen vs FCK live stream: Can you watch for free?

Just days after their undefeated season came to an end in the Europa League final, Bayer Leverkusen get a chance for another trophy when they take on FC Kaiserslautern in the 2024 DFB-Pokal final. No matter how this one goes, we’re set to see something we haven’t witnessed in this tournament in a long time. Either Leverkusen raise the trophy for the first time since 1993, or FCK become the first team from Germany’s second division to win the title since Hannover 96 in 1992.

Is There a Free Leverkusen vs FCK Live Stream?

Watch leverkusen vs fck on espn+, how to watch the leverkusen vs fck live stream from abroad.

The match is about to start, at 2:00 p.m. ET, and will be televised on ESPNU in the United States. If you don’t have cable and you aren’t a veteran of our guide on how to watch Bundesliga in the U.S., we’ve compiled several different ways you can watch a live stream of Leverkusen vs FCK today.

You can watch a live stream of ESPNU on Fubo , YouTube TV or DirecTV Stream . There are some other live-TV streaming services that include ESPNU, as well, but these are the three that come with a free trial. The Fubo free trial is seven days long, and the other two are each five.

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If you go with Fubo, you’ll need either the “Premier” channel package or the “Pro” channel package along with the “Sports Plus” add-on in order to get ESPNU. With YouTube, you just need the “Base Plan,” and with DirecTV Stream, you’ll want to go with the “Choice” channel package or anything above that.

No matter which one you pick, you can sign up, watch the match and then cancel your subscription before you need to pay anything.

If we don’t count free trials, the cheapest way to watch Leverkusen vs FCK in the United States is on ESPN+ , which costs $11 per month or $15 for a bundle of ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ .

ESPN+ includes every Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal match, which doesn’t matter too much with both campaigns done for the season after today. But that’ll be the case for next season, too, plus there’s plenty to watch in the meantime. ESPN+ has dozens of other live sports, 30-for-30 documentaries, original shows and more.

If you have any of those aforementioned streaming services but you’re outside the United States during the time of the match, you can use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to bypass location-restrictions and still watch the match. NordVPN tops our list of the best VPN services , plus it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it out risk-free.

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Toronto FC plays host to CF Montreal in the season's first edition of the Canadian Classique tonight. Montreal has won each of the last five head-to-head meetings, but Toronto is off to a much better start to the season and looks primed to put an end to that streak in front of the home crowd.

The 401 Derby is about to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. It won't be televised in either the U.S. or Canada, but you can watch via MLS Season Pass. Here's everything you need to know about the streaming service and how exactly to watch Toronto FC vs CF Montreal. Watch Toronto FC vs CF Montreal on MLS Season Pass

The 2024 Preakness Stakes gets underway today at Pimlico Race Course, as Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan seeks to secure the second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown.

After some exciting undercard races, the main event is starting soon. Coverage will move over to NBC at 4:30 p.m. ET for a few more undercard races and the main event.

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk is finally here. This fight has been brewing since Usyk took Anthony Joshua's belts in 2021, but rematches, injuries, and money talks have delayed the fight for years. But it's officially here, and if you aren't sufficiently hyped up, let's break down why this is so important.

The winner of this fight will be the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis won the title from Evander Holyfield in 1999. Lewis was stripped of one of his belts after declining a mandatory fight, and no one has collected them all since. A big part of that is because of the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, who split the titles between them for over a decade and refused to fight each other out of brotherly love.

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Review: In ‘Usus,’ Pig Latin Gets Lost in Translation

T. Adamson’s new comedy, which opens Clubbed Thumb’s popular Summerworks series at the Wild Project, is about a group of worked-up Franciscan friars.

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By Elisabeth Vincentelli

As befits a play set among an order of 14th-century friars, “Usus” occasionally uses Latin words. Sort of. It’s likely that most audience members will understand “vile rat astard-bay” without resorting to a dictionary because pig Latin is still a living language.

That the monks in T. Adamson’s play slip into ig-pay Atin-lay is par for the course since their speech mixes eruditely cryptic references (to those who haven’t spent time in a seminary) and a vernacular that at times feels ripped from TikTok.

The show, which opens the 2024 edition of Clubbed Thumb’s popular Summerworks series at the Wild Project in the East Village of Manhattan, is about a small group of Franciscan friars worked up by Pope John XXII (pronounced X-X-I-I) declaring their vow of poverty heretical. After all, the brothers (pronounced bros) are merely following the precepts of their patron saint, Francis of Assisi, and that shouldn’t make them dissidents.

In between preparing a letter of complaint to their boss, the men go about their brotherly business. Bernard (Ugo Chukwu), for example, is accumulating scientific knowledge about the mole rats rooting in the garden. JP (Annie Fang) is a young goofball who often finds himself awed by the brusque, brainy Paul (Crystal Finn, whose own play “Find Me Here” closes out Summerworks). “It’s so cool how you know all this lore and expanded universe stuff,” JP says after Paul brings up the First Council of Nicaea.

Paul is a bit of an alpha bro, more articulate than the others, more learned — or at least more willing to wield his knowledge — and he directs the writing of the letter to the Pope, instructing Bernard to include the accusation that “John X-X-I-I is the earthly materialization of Antichrist.”

This has the potential for a good, intellectually bracing comedy somewhere left of “Monty Python’s Life of Brian,” but “Usus,” directed by Emma Miller, lands only some of the time. Partly this is because the cast barrels through much of the dialogue at high speed. This may be an attempt to give the lines a modern pace in amusing contradiction with the setting and content, but it only makes many of the exchanges — often theologically and philosophically dense — hard to follow. And some of the anachronisms are not as funny as they need to be, with a conversation about the latest music (“This beat slaps! This track’s a bop!”) feeling especially forced.

The biggest issue is that it’s unclear what Adamson is trying to say. The best scenes touch on the various ways in which the friars try to connect with God. For Matteo (Jon Norman Schneider), the most visibly conflicted of the bunch, this involves the search for an ecstatic state (self-flagellation segues into joyous dancing to Justin Bieber’s “Sorry”) and dealing with repressed sexuality.

After Matteo admits to a raunchy vision, Bernard rejoins with, “What the smite am I supposed to do with this information?!” I often felt the same way about the show: It’s intriguing, but what am I supposed to do with it?

Usus Through May 28 at the Clubbed Thumb, Manhattan; clubbedthumb.org . Running time: 1 hour 10 minutes.