[5] Yamamoto (Takeshi Kitano) is a brutal and experienced yakuza enforcer whose boss was killed and whose clan was defeated in a criminal war with a rival family.

As time passes, Yamamoto and his new gang emerge as a formidable force, gradually expanding their turf to such an extent that they confront the powerful Italian Mafia.

"[12] Marc Savlov of the Austin Chronicle gave the film two and half stars out of five, stating: "Kitano's beat is an altogether grimmer affair, laden with dark irony and unexpurgated scenes of violence.

"[14] In his review for Variety, David Rooney wrote: "Kitano frequently tips his hat to the American gangster movie in Coppola-styled scenes of confrontation and carnage.

But while many of the action set pieces are enlivened by the director’s customary verve and humor, the plot advances clumsily with the narrative engine continually sputtering and stopping.

Characters are so unsatisfyingly developed that the film delivers only on a basic level as a tale of gangster rivalry, greed, elimination and expansion, with its larger themes struggling to register...

Brother is full of elegant compositions and poised, deliberate camera movement but rarely matches the visual impact of earlier Kitano features.

"[15] Kitano stated in an interview that he was not fully satisfied with the final result of Brother and that he regretted his "Hollywood" adventure, which was supposed to bring him a broader audience with a higher exposure.