I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

"Brotherhood" ran from 2006-2008 and is based on Massachusetts brothers Whitey Bulger and his prominent politician brother Billy.Here the story has been moved to Rhode Island and "The Hill," inhabited by Irish Americans and represented in the state by Tom Caffee (Jason Clarke), an ambitious public servant being groomed for greatness by his mentor, Judd Fitzgerald (Len Cariou).The Caffee home consists of his wife (Annabeth Gish) and three daughters. His mother Rose (Finnoula Flanagan) lives nearby, as does his sister Kerry (Mary Kate Martinson) and her husband.Their brother, Michael (Jason Isaacs), in the criminal element, disappeared some years earlier when a contract was put out on him but one day reappears and begins to take over all the underworld business - drugs, protection, anything he can get a piece of. This often sets his prominent brother up for criticism.A cousin arrives from Ireland, Colin (Brian F. O'Byrne) who is the son of Rose's sister and works with Michael to collect money and shake people down.Michael is unstable, and due to an injury, becomes even more unstable, gradually popping bennies like mints. He has always had an itchy trigger finger, but it gets worse. (The character reminded me a bit of the one Walt Goggins played so brilliantly on "The Shield.") His old girlfriend Kath (Tina Benko) is back on the scene, and when he picks up an attraction between her and his cousin Colin, he nearly goes insane. The series highlights the similarity between the two brothers. They are both corrupt, Tommy in the political system, using blackmail and manipulation to get what he wants and stealing - when he's given $50,000 as a donation for a church, he gives the church $35,000. He puts his childhood friend Declan (Ethan Embry) in charge of a potential scandal involving payoffs for a waterfront development, not realizing that Declan, after making a mistake and pretty much ruining his career, is going to play by the book. So when it looks like he's going to be implicated in a huge scheme, he throws everybody else under the bus.This series was highly acclaimed but did not attract much of an audience. The acting is simply superb, with a phenomenal performance by Jason Isaacs and a strong low-key, natural performance by Jason Clarke. I saw the man who played Colin, Brian O'Byrne, on Broadway in Doubt, and he is a terrific actor. The series hired the best for every role. Someone pointed out that no one in the show is completely likable. I have to say that's true - if Rose were my mother-in-law I'd have thrown her out a window. I did like the Caffee sister and despite myself felt sorry for the way Declan's life was going. I believe he was a sympathetic character. But all of these characters are very human, well fleshed out, with good and bad qualities.Everything, including the Providence locations are drop drawer.However, this series, compelling as it is, is not for everyone. The violence is graphic and brutal, there is torture, also graphic, there is nudity, graphic sex, and every other word is the f-bomb. Realistic, maybe, but not to everyone's taste. I admit I couldn't stop watching it. I gave it a 7 because watching it over a few days as I did, the blood and guts was a little too much.

Fake, fake, fake. TV emptiness at its worst. Pretending to be the Sopranos. Pretending to be dark and intense. But mainly, OBVIOUSLY trying to pick up where the Sopranos was going to leave off. Failed seriously. Merely a sad copy, without the smart, or the real funny. Don't waste your time. Oh hell! I've got to write ten lines! What can I say? Read the WGAw magazine when the Sopranos was going away. Every article proclaimed it the best series ever written. This thing may not be the worst, but it clearly is a copy, and a poor one at that. Trying hard, but not succeeding on any level. More cable pablum. Just an Irish soap opera. That's what made the Sopranos so great. Sure, it had its soapy elements, but David Chase was smart to come around to the harder issues and hang with them. And the family issues were common to us all. The mob "code" was superficial and obvious, not trying to con us into liking. Forget this show, as it will be forgotten.

Guns. Knives. Bullets. Drug use. Sex. Graphic Violence. Profanity.This is what you get in "Brotherhood", Showtime's original series focusing on Irish and Italian organized crime and politics in Providence, RI. The acting is incredible, all the way down to the minor cast members. Fine directors as well, including Nick Gomez - who has made several films (including "New Jersey Drive" and the excellent "Laws of Gravity") and directed episodes of HBO's "Oz" and "The Sopranos" as well.I think what makes the show work is it's heart the creators put into it. Being from an Irish father and an Italian mother from Jersey City, I see a lot of authenticity in what's left of these two ethnic groups in America's ghettos portrayed. Perfect examples of this would be: Freddie Cork (Kevin Chapman), an Irish-American crime boss who is sober and committed to his wife and children; Declan Giggs, (played brilliantly by Ethan Embry) as a cop who just can't seem to decide which side of the law he's truly on; Alphonse Nazzoli (John Fiore), a hotheaded Italian mob capo who should have had a role on "The Sopranos". No, it may not totally surpass "The Sopranos", but "Brotherhood" is nonetheless great for what it is, and has all of the gangster violence bloodhounds scream for. Highly recommended.

This is one of the best series ever made!! The only one comparable is the Shield. The Brotherhood makes the Sopranos look like something written by 4th graders... and the product placement has gone too far!! I have been ranting about Bro-hood to everyone I know. Weird thing is- NONE of these people have even heard of it!! They are all Sopranos faithfuls, and once they checked this out- addicted for life!! Wish they were marketing it a bit heavier so's to get the following it rightly deserves... And thanks for actually having integrity (to the writers/producers) to NOT sell out a good script to market this to the masses of as$e$!! Hope there will be a LOT more seasons of this!!! (And when is the second season starting?? I am going crazy with anticipation!!)