Summary
A Mark Wahlberg thriller from the early 2000s is a thinly veiled remake of a classicJohn WayneWesternfrom the 1960s.John Wayne starred in 80 Westernsthroughout his career, which itself spanned half a century. Of course, he fronted plenty of other kinds of movies from dramas (The Quiet Man) to war epics (Sands of Iwo Jima), but Westerns are where he left an indelible impression. Wayne fronted some of the genre’s most influential films, from Howard Hawks’Rio BravotoThe Searchers, with the latter being particularly influential to “Movie Brats” like George Lucas and Martin Scorsese.
The star made plenty of Western duds too;Wayne’s only sequelRooster Cogburnfrom 1975was a waste of both him and co-star Katharine Hepburn, whileRio Loboclosed Hawks' directing career on an underwhelming note. Perhaps unsurprisingly,there have been few overt remakes of Wayne’s most famous movies. The star casts a big shadow, and it would take a brave actor to try and make a mark in a role previously played by Wayne.
There was no shortage ofMark Wahlberg action moviesduring the 2000s, with the former singer regularly appearing in fare likeShooterorMax Payne.One of Wahlberg’s best action films from the 2000s isFour Brothersby the late, great John Singleton. The story sees Wahlberg’s criminal Bobby reuniting with his adopted brothers to find out who killed their mother.Four Brothersmay have only earned a 53% rating onRotten Tomatoes, but it was also a solid hit, grossing over $90 million on a $30 million budget (viaThe Numbers).
Four Brothers is more of a remix of The Sons of Katie Elder than a full-blown remake, though the relationship between the siblings and the basic plot mirror one another.
Fans of Wayne may have noticedFour Brothers' premise is very close to 1965’sThe Sons of Katie Elder. Like the Wahlberg version, this involves four sons reuniting in the wake of their beloved mother’s death to right some wrongs. While not held in as high regard as movies likeThe Searchers,The Sons of Katie Elderis still a favorite among Wayne devotees, with the star playing the eldest sibling, with Dean Martin (Rio Bravo), Earl Holliman and Michael Anderson Jr. rounding out the titular sons.
Four Brothersis more of a remix ofThe Sons of Katie Elderthan a full-blown remake, though the relationship between the siblings and the basic plot do mirror one another. Singleton’s movie takes a traditional Western tale but rubs some 1970s-style grit on it too, feeling in parts like a thriller Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson (Death Wish) could have fronted in their heyday.
How Four Brothers Improves On The Sons Of Katie Elder
Four Brothers is a more complicated take on the story
The Sons of Katie Elderis an “Oater” in the classic sense, and lacks the darkness of the Spaghetti Westerns that were starting to become popular at that time. Viewed today, it’s still a rousing adventure, though it might be too old-fashioned for younger viewers.Four Brothersmakes key changes toThe Sons of Katie Eldertoo, with the most crucial being the late matriarch Evelyn (Fionnula Flanagan) is given some screentime. Flanagan makes a major impression despite her limited appearance, and it’s clear why the boys adored her so much.
Katie Elder is already dead when the Wayne version begins, so despite being spoken about in reverential tones, audiences never get to meet her.The dynamic between the siblings inThe Sons of Katie Elderlacks the warmth shown inFour Brotherstoo. Wayne and Martin are obviously the biggest stars and tend to overpower their scenes, but the dynamics seen in the Singleton film - including the macho bonding and petty infighting - are more relatable.
A sequel calledFive Brotherswas once rumored to be in development, but nearly 20 years on from the original, it appears it’s not happening.
Four Brothersis also a darker film thanThe Sons of Katie Elder. The latter still has a high bodycount, butthe Wahlberg film is more of a vigilante tale that isn’t afraid to make the lead characters anti-heroes. When they kill the men responsible for Evelyn’s murder, it amounts to a cold-blooded execution.The Sons of Katie Elderportrays things in a more black-and-white manner, where the sibling’s actions are always justified.
The Sons Of Katie Elder Isn’t The Only John Wayne Western With A Stealth Remake
Quietly remaking John Wayne movies has been happening for decades
Four Brothersdoes little to mask itsKatie Elderinspirations, but it’s not the only example of a stealth John Wayne remake.The Searchershas been reworked many,manytimes; Scorsese’sTaxi Driveris a gritty take on the same basic concept, Paul Bettany’sPriestis a sci-fi/horror take on the story and even the originalStar Warscopies the Western adventure’s template. Bruce Willis nearly fronted a sci-fiSearchersremake during the 1990s too.
This 2015 Kurt Russell Movie Is A Stealth John Wayne Remake (Before Turning Into A Horror Movie)
Kurt Russell starred in two Westerns back in 2015, with one being a stealth remake of one of John Wayne’s most acclaimed Western adventures.
John Carpenter is an avowed Western fan and has calledRio Bravoone of his personal favorites. This is whyCarpenter has loosely remadeRio Bravotwice; the first was 1976’sAssault on Precinct 13with the second being 2001’sGhosts of Mars. Whereas many of the above films hid their influences with new genre clothing (horror, sci-fi, etc),Four Brothersis upfront about itsSons of Katie Elderhomage.
Four Brothers
Cast
After their adoptive mother is murdered during a store holdup, four reunited brothers set out to track down her killer. Their pursuit of justice uncovers a deeper conspiracy in their Detroit neighborhood, leading them into a dangerous confrontation with a more threatening adversary than they intended on dealing with.
