The Brothers Bloom

The Brothers Bloom is a quirky comedy that on the surface appears to be a Wes Anderson wannabe, complete with colorful visuals, opulent set pieces, and eccentric, stylish characters. But unexpected plot twists and heartfelt romance make writer/director Rian Johnson’s film more charming and accessible than his predecessor’s work.

Part caper, part romance, Bloom stars Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as brothers Stephen and Bloom, who, after a bleak childhood shuttling between foster homes, have grown up to make a fortune as con men. Stephen is the mastermind of the elaborate schemes, going so far as to storyboard plans and hire actors to help carry out the cons on unsuspecting victims like a staged, real-life theatrical production. Meanwhile Bloom and their sexy Japanese “associate,” Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi), are his regular featured players.

Leading a scripted life written by his brother is staring to wear on Bloom, who longs for an “unwritten” one. He threatens to quit, but not before Stephen concocts one last plan: conning Penelope, a naive New Jersey heiress (Rachel Weisz) to join them in a fake heist and swindle her of her money. Bloom is reluctant, but finds himself attracted to Penelope, whose zest for adventure and thrill are infectious, yet also make her the perfect bait. Torn between loyalty to his brother and the woman he’s fallen for, Bloom begins to feel unsure as to who is the one being set up.

“The day I con you is the day I die,” Stephen assures his younger brother, but Bloom has his doubts. Could Stephen have finally written the ultimate fantastical tale to give Bloom the happy ending he always wanted? Can something so contrived actually be real? What or who exactly is real? These questions, played out as a playful madcap romp around the world via ships and trains, keep the viewer engaged until the very end.

Ruffalo and Brody make a fine pair, and the duo delivers the kind of solid performances we’ve come to expect of them. The real gems, however, are the women. Weisz is adorable and charming as the kitschy Penelope and shows she has a real knack for slapstick comedy if given the right material, which Bloom clearly is.

Meanwhile, Kikuchi, not seen in an American film since Babel, makes for another fine comedienne. A woman who blows things up, Bang Bang barely says two words in the film, yet effortlessly steals scenes with just a single glance or eye roll—all while remaining cool, sexy, and mysterious. You get the feeling that Mike Myers’ Austin Powers would just love her.

Writer/director Johnson, whose previous outing was the indie feature Brick, proves he can create interesting and layered characters and is smart enough to hire quality actors he can leave alone to deliver the goods. His quartet makes for an interesting, if unconventional, Bonnie & Bonnie and Clyde & Clyde, whose adventures are definitely worth tagging along on.

—Zorianna Kit
05.15.09

When the younger of two notorious sibling con artists announces a plan to go legit, his brother implores him to carry out one last swindle in the eagerly anticipated sophomore feature from Brick writer/director Rian Johnson. Tired of a life on the run, a confidence man who has dedicated his life to the art of the grift decides to call it quits. Despite his plans to leave his criminal past behind, however, the reluctant scammer finds that his brother has masterminded one last scheme to claim the wealth of an eccentric millionaire (Rachel Weisz). With the opportunity to make enough money so that he would be able to live comfortably even if his legitimate endeavors fail, the heretofore unrepentant con man finds it increasingly difficult to refuse his sibling's potentially profitable endeavor. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi