Paramount Movie   ••• Picture/Sound   •••• Extras   ••

Given its tired plot and relentless wallowing in grisly violence, director John Singleton's Four Brothers is a far better movie than it has any right to be. Chalk up that small victory to the beautifully choreographed and edited action scenes that wring every ounce of suspense from otherwise predictable plot turns. The acting is also above average, especially that of Mark Wahlberg, who is utterly convincing as a street tough hellbent on revenge.

Image quality is incredibly crisp, allowing the stark cinematography of a burnt-out cityscape in deepest winter to lend a sad, spooky vibe to the film. The same is true for a soundtrack heavy with 1960s and '70s soul, which somehow blends nicely (in 5.1 channels) with all that overwrought gunplay. Extras are standard-issue: a director's commentary, a half-hour of documentary segments, and 10 minutes of uninteresting deleted scenes. [R] English, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Surround; French, Dolby Digital 5.1; letterboxed (2.35:1) and anamorphic widescreen; dual layer.