Brian's Song (2001)

 Just Not the Original
This version of the movie was such a huge disappointment. If you have never seen this movie, do yourself a favor and watch the original. There was no chemistry between any of the actors in this newer version, so it was hard to be pulled into the emotion of this tragic story. The original ripped me to shreds when I watched it years ago, but this version does not give justice to the true story. I remember when this all happened, as I am sure all of the actors in the original version did as well. Maybe thats what made the original so real and heart felt.
June 30, 2007

 Pretty Darned Good for a Remake
I have seen both the 1971 and the 2001 versions of Brian's Song and I believe that each movie has its strengths and weaknesses. Certainly, a few of the strenghts of the 1971 version include the remarkable musical score, the obvious chemistry between Billy Dee Williams and James Caan, and the use of real footage of Piccolo and Sayers playing football. The original's weaknesses include the simplistic and inaccurate portrayal of Piccolo's illness and the fact that Pic and Sayers' wives are little more than "window dressing" and have very little depth to them.

As far as the remake is concerned, I will admit, the chemistry between Maher (who plays Piccolo) and Phifer (who plays Sayers) is nowhere near as good as in the original. I never felt as if these characters were really comfortable with one another. Also, the football scenes are pretty contrived, but considering this is meant to be a movie about guys who happen to play football, rather than a football movie, I let that one slide.

What makes this movie worth seeing above all else is the relationship between Piccolo and his wife Joy and the very realistic way they portray his illness. I remember when this remake first came out watching the scene where the Dr. tells Brian and Joy that they have to perform a mastectomy. I thought back to the original version and I said to myself, "A mastectomy? I thought he had his right lung removed. . ." Little did I realize then that the remake stays very true-to-life regarding the particulars of Brian's cancer. The real Brian did indeed have a mastectomy as well as two other major surgeries in addition to chemotherapy. The man suffered greatly and the new version portrays Brian's illness much more realistically than the first--even calling the cancer by its right name: "embryonal cell carcinoma".

In addition, the remake shows us how important family was to Brian. Maher and Paula Cale, who plays Joy, have excellent chemistry and I appreciated being able to see some of Brian's story through Joy's eyes. The most powerful scene in the movie takes place when Brian, who suspects his cancer has returned, tucks his little girls into bed. This scene is made all the more powerful when we realize just how young Piccolo really was. In the original, both Caan and Williams were in their 30's (and looked it). Here, Maher is about 26 years old--literally the same age as the real Piccolo was when his cancer appeared. His youth and the tragedy of his illness really hit home when he's tucking his girls into bed.

Overall, this is a great remake. I wish the friendship between Piccolo and Sayers had been more believable, but other than that, it is an excellent made for TV-type film. May 21, 2007

 This is a poor remake
It really looks like it was done on a shoe string budget. The football scenes are lame. Sean's Maher's Brian Piccolo was not well done...and not beleivable. GET THE ORIGINAL...it is worth it January 13, 2007

 The New Version Will Make You Cry.
I first seen the remake of Brian's Song on ABC's Wonderful World Of Disney broadcast and at the ending of the film,I was reminded of the death of Walter Payton, another Chicago Bears legend. I am surprised this made-for-TV movie had not won an Emmy for best TV film. I would recommend this film to all Bears fans. For those who would prefer the original version starring Billy Dee Williams and James Caan, that is okay as well. November 2, 2006

 What movie are you all watching?
When we watched this remake of Brian's Song, it was not by design. We had requested the 1971 version from Netflix, but the DVD was damaged in the mail and they resent the 2001 remake by mistake. But instead of sending it back again, we thought "what the hec, let's give it a chance." While we didn't expect it to live up to the beloved original, nothing could prepare us for how god-awful it was. So when we saw all the stars given to this remake, we were utterly mystified. Other than Mekhi Phifer's performance, which was pretty good, it was a joke. Sean's Maher's Brian Piccolo was a caricature; cartoony and over-the-top obnoxious. Maybe they had intended to cast Jim Carrey in the role but he was busy. Instead, they got Maher to do a Jim Carrey impersonation. James Caan portrayed Piccolo as this outgoing, wise-cracking guy, but he was human and believable -- not a clown. And those football scenes. They looked ridiculous. At least in the original they used real game footage, which gave a real gritty sense of being in a stadium -- not at a high school or some sound stage. Even though the original was a TV movie, the performances, scenarios and dialog were well done, believable, touching, heartwrenching. If you watch it now is it dated? Of course, but there's nothing wrong with that. It is current to the time it depicts. But this remake reminds us of a very bad, melodramatic after-school special. Really, it was so bad I can't find adequate words to describe it. July 8, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...