It’s not always easy to get along with siblings. In The Sisters Brothers, nobody knows this better than Eli and Charlie Sisters; a pair of top-notch gun-slinging contract killers in the 19th century west coast, played by John C Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix.

You see, Eli is ready to give up this lawless lifestyle, while his brother can’t envision a life without contract work. It’s a point of contention for the brothers in the film as an internal conflict that festers in the background of the plot.

That plot, by the way, takes interesting turns as the brothers chase down the targets of their latest assignment: Hermann Kermit Warm played by Riz Ahmed, who possesses a secret chemical that identifies gold in rivers, and John Morris played by Jake Gyllenhaal, his newly befriended prospecting partner. This high caliber cast all offer a raw, organic, and refreshing authenticity to their respective roles.

The Sisters Brothers is a western through and through, adding a subtle comedic touch to the familiar genre style. And while gold is the narrative’s incentive, the film makes it clear by the end that bond friends and family build with each other proves to be far more valuable.

Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 1 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 2 | Reviewer's Preference - 1 | What does this mean?