Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is embarking on his fourth tour of duty, leaving behind his beloved wife (Natalie Portman) and two daughters. When Sam's Blackhawk helicopter is shot down in the mountains of Afghanistan, the worst is presumed, leaving an enormous void in the family. Despite a dark history, Sam's charismatic younger brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) steps in to fill that void.