Red-Barracuda
The obvious selling point for The Brotherhood of Justice these days is that it showcases Keanu Reeves, Billy Zane and Keifer Sutherland before they were famous. In the cases of Reeves and Sutherland, they would in fact become Hollywood A-Listers not long after this was released. It's a teen movie set in California about a gang of high school vigilantes who wish to teach a lesson to local criminals and fellow classmates they dislike. What starts out as fairly playful increasingly becomes quite dark as the gang gain confidence in their activities, their actions become more criminal themselves.This was seemingly a pilot for a series that never was. It's also based on real events that happened a year earlier in a Texas school. It actually makes for quite an entertaining and interesting enough TV movie. The gang and their actions are presented in shades of grey, with the audience only meant to sympathise with them up to a point. It means there is some melodrama generated, while at the same time having a fairly suspenseful parallel narrative to compliment this. It's made for TV, so it does have certain limitations but, mainly, this works pretty well and will especially be of interest to those interested in the young soon-to-be film stars. It also ends in a quite abrupt and surprising way that I personally thought was quite good.
dansview
If you are familiar with the character of "Johnny Utah" from the 1991 film Point Break, then you are going to notice some peculiar similarities in Keanu Reeve's character here. Only this came out five years earlier.In both films he is a quarterback. In both films he straddles the line between good and bad human being. In both films people say things like, "DO IT, NOW!" In both films, people ask him to summon the fortitude that helped him win football games.I admired the kids' sense of brotherhood, and desire to support their school. That's rare. But I also saw that arrogant sense of entitlement that jocks and some "soshe" types have in high school. Real A-Holes.It was interesting to see that there was a Mexican side of town, even back then. Little did they know how things would change.I like Keanu Reeves. He has a certain "everyman" quality. I also liked the way the film depicted the contrast of rich kids and the working class ones. Of course in this case, it was based on a true story.The dialogue was fine. There were several good scenes between two people at a time. Two brothers, the cop and the principal, coworkers, best friends, etc. I love good dialogue.Not a bad film at all. Interesting concept based on truth.
bkoganbing
Santa Lucia High School has a real problem with juvenile delinquents. They're making it bad for the rest of the student body. After an inspirational talk from school principal Joe Spano, a group consisting of student government leaders and jocks decide to do something about it.Keanu Reeves and his friends form something called The Brotherhood of Justice. They've got access to information that local law enforcement doesn't have and they make use of it accordingly. They know who all dope dealer, thieves, and bullies are and the Brotherhood deals out their own brand of justice accordingly.Problem is that the members of this secret little fraternity start to use if for their own ends. It leads to some serious consequences for all concerned.This made for television film was the first notice both Keanu Reeves and Kiefer Sutherland got. This was before the Bill&Ted films for Keanu and the first Young Guns for Kiefer. Both of them show a charisma that was apparent back then. No doubt wither of them would become stars.Also Lori Loughlin of Full House and Billy Zane who was Leonard DiCaprio's nemesis in Titanic had some supporting roles.The specter of vigilantism is always beneath the surface in society. There is certainly a great temptation to make matters in your own hand. The Brotherhood of Justice is not a great film, but not a bad one either and a bit above the average drama geared toward the teenage crowd.
Adam Jennings
I have to start by stating that I have an unusually low boredom threshold! This film wasn't brilliant, but wasn't the worlds worst either.What was interesting was how Billy Zane, Keanu Reeves and Kiefer Sutherland all looked the same age and now, Kiefer and Billy look about the same, but Keanue still has his youthfull charms ... hmmm! :)Also funny was how even the one line extras upstaged Keanu - not that I've got anything against the guy. He's very good at what he does, the Matrix and Bill & Teds' series show his talent.Overall an average TV movie - worth a watch if you've got a couple of hours to kill, but not worth going out of your way for!
AD
