Actor turned filmmaker Ryan O'Nan makes his directorial debut with Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, a comedy that attempts to capture both the magic of making music and the complicated joys of bromance. O'Nan, who has appeared on the sadly short-lived dramas The Unusuals and Mercy, also wrote the script and stars as Alex, an aspiring songwriter who has broken up with his girlfriend, lost his way and plays tunes in a maudlin moose costume. Michael Weston, who memorably played short-term amnesiac Private Brian Dancer on Scrubs, co-stars as Jim an energetic and eccentric visionary craving an outlet for his offbeat creativity. Together they form a motley band that that they impetuously dub The Brooklyn Brothers, which employs unconventional instruments to create surprisingly touching tunes.
While much of the above may sound twee, Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best seems more earnest and raw than it's seemingly hipster premise would lead you to believe. I warn you, its first trailer starts off slow, but once the pair start jamming with the help of children's toys, this narrative and its gawky heroes become radiant. Check out the trailer below, or in hi-res at Apple:
Though many movies have attempted to display the kinetic spark of musical collaboration, most fall short. Maybe it's the desperation in Alex's hangdog expression, or the juxtaposition of kiddie instruments played by grown men, or the contagious thrill that flows from O'Nan and Weston as they play together, but something here just clicks and makes Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best seem compelling, though—like its scruffy protagonists—a little rough around the edges.
Oscilloscope Laboratories is releasing the film in waves. Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best will open in New York on September 21. It will be available on iTunes starting September 25th, and will open in Los Angeles on September 28th. Finally, a VOD release will follow on September 29th.
