Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane
Running Time: 113 minutes (plus trailers)
“The perfect con is one where everyone involved gets just what they wanted”
In the delightful opening scene of The Brothers Bloom, the narrator (who sounds suspiciously similar to the narrator of P.T. Anderson’s Magnolia) introduces us to the titular brothers, the charismatic heroes of director Rian Johnson’s follow up to the critically acclaimed indie noir thriller Brick. Siblings and partners in crime, from a young age there was nothing the Brothers Bloom did better than pull elaborate and highly entertaining cons; Steven (played by Mark Ruffalo) is the master planner, spinning complex webs of deception with incredible ease and exuberant humour. The younger brother, addressed only by his surname (and played by Adrien Brody) is the roper and for all of the thirty five years of his life he has played the parts that Steven has written for him, helping make the Brothers Bloom famous all around the world, from St Petersburg to Prague.
Bloom however has begun to grow weary of the life and decides to leave the game for good, settling down in Montenegro for an extensive sabbatical. But of course Steven will have none of that, and so he draws Bloom back in for (wait for it) one final con. The mark: Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz), a wealthy but isolated heiress just waiting (as Steven puts it) for someone to sweep her off her feet. The plan seems to be going smoothly; the trap is set and the bait is caught, there’s only one little hitch: Bloom begins to fall in love (I know, what a shocker). The Brothers Bloom is a piece of pure light entertainment, filled with sweet, quirky and funny dialogue and characters, and a story that, at least until the rather weak third act, is an absolute joy to watch unfold.
The first hour of this film would probably be up there as one of the most enjoyable hours I’ve had at the cinema all year. There is such a fresh, breezy style to everything about this movie, from the dialogue to the direction to incredible costume and production design. There is always something cool to watch on screen, be it yellow Lamborghini or a well placed wall mural, and it’s always matched by stylish editing and direction from behind the camera. On top of that, Johnson has crafted some of the most fun and likeable characters you’ll ever see. From the naïve but enthusiastic Penelope to the charming but crafty Steven to the melancholy but kindhearted Bloom and of course the sardonically silent demolitions expert Bang Bang (played with a wonderful dry wit by Rinko Kikuchi), I defy anyone not to fall in love with at least one of the main protagonists, if not all four.
As the film reaches its conclusion is takes on a more serious tone that doesn’t really fit. Johnson seems to want to make the film into a classic con movie, and so the story gets darker and more complex, and the enjoyment factor suffers as a result. Unfortunately, the actual con the brothers are pulling at the end of the film isn’t all that interesting, Blooms motivations aren’t particularly clear (or logical), and the final climax in which you are unsure what is going on; whether the brothers are really in danger or if the whole thing is just another one of Steven’s elaborate ruses, doesn’t work nearly as well in execution as it probably did on paper.
At the end of the day, as a conman movie, The Brothers Bloom it isn’t particularly strong. Like many far better entries into the genre, there are moments when the audience themselves are being tricked, but here the reveals just aren’t satisfying. But while the film doesn't really work as a drama, where it absolutely succeeds, thanks in combination to Johnson and the actors, is as a breezy, lighthearted caper film. Apart from the last half hour, this movie is just non-stop fun; exotic locales, amazing designs and a wonderfully quirky cast of characters, all of whom are portrayed by actors who are clearly having a blast. This is three quarters of a fantastic movie, and even the weak ending (which to be honest isn’t even that weak) cannot make you forget how much you enjoyed hanging out with Bang Bang, Penelope and The Brothers Bloom.
The Brothers Bloom is now showing in Australia in limited release. It is currently available in the US on DVD
Starring: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane
Running Time: 113 minutes (plus trailers)
“The perfect con is one where everyone involved gets just what they wanted”
In the delightful opening scene of The Brothers Bloom, the narrator (who sounds suspiciously similar to the narrator of P.T. Anderson’s Magnolia) introduces us to the titular brothers, the charismatic heroes of director Rian Johnson’s follow up to the critically acclaimed indie noir thriller Brick. Siblings and partners in crime, from a young age there was nothing the Brothers Bloom did better than pull elaborate and highly entertaining cons; Steven (played by Mark Ruffalo) is the master planner, spinning complex webs of deception with incredible ease and exuberant humour. The younger brother, addressed only by his surname (and played by Adrien Brody) is the roper and for all of the thirty five years of his life he has played the parts that Steven has written for him, helping make the Brothers Bloom famous all around the world, from St Petersburg to Prague.Bloom however has begun to grow weary of the life and decides to leave the game for good, settling down in Montenegro for an extensive sabbatical. But of course Steven will have none of that, and so he draws Bloom back in for (wait for it) one final con. The mark: Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz), a wealthy but isolated heiress just waiting (as Steven puts it) for someone to sweep her off her feet. The plan seems to be going smoothly; the trap is set and the bait is caught, there’s only one little hitch: Bloom begins to fall in love (I know, what a shocker). The Brothers Bloom is a piece of pure light entertainment, filled with sweet, quirky and funny dialogue and characters, and a story that, at least until the rather weak third act, is an absolute joy to watch unfold.
The first hour of this film would probably be up there as one of the most enjoyable hours I’ve had at the cinema all year. There is such a fresh, breezy style to everything about this movie, from the dialogue to the direction to incredible costume and production design. There is always something cool to watch on screen, be it yellow Lamborghini or a well placed wall mural, and it’s always matched by stylish editing and direction from behind the camera. On top of that, Johnson has crafted some of the most fun and likeable characters you’ll ever see. From the naïve but enthusiastic Penelope to the charming but crafty Steven to the melancholy but kindhearted Bloom and of course the sardonically silent demolitions expert Bang Bang (played with a wonderful dry wit by Rinko Kikuchi), I defy anyone not to fall in love with at least one of the main protagonists, if not all four.As the film reaches its conclusion is takes on a more serious tone that doesn’t really fit. Johnson seems to want to make the film into a classic con movie, and so the story gets darker and more complex, and the enjoyment factor suffers as a result. Unfortunately, the actual con the brothers are pulling at the end of the film isn’t all that interesting, Blooms motivations aren’t particularly clear (or logical), and the final climax in which you are unsure what is going on; whether the brothers are really in danger or if the whole thing is just another one of Steven’s elaborate ruses, doesn’t work nearly as well in execution as it probably did on paper.
At the end of the day, as a conman movie, The Brothers Bloom it isn’t particularly strong. Like many far better entries into the genre, there are moments when the audience themselves are being tricked, but here the reveals just aren’t satisfying. But while the film doesn't really work as a drama, where it absolutely succeeds, thanks in combination to Johnson and the actors, is as a breezy, lighthearted caper film. Apart from the last half hour, this movie is just non-stop fun; exotic locales, amazing designs and a wonderfully quirky cast of characters, all of whom are portrayed by actors who are clearly having a blast. This is three quarters of a fantastic movie, and even the weak ending (which to be honest isn’t even that weak) cannot make you forget how much you enjoyed hanging out with Bang Bang, Penelope and The Brothers Bloom.
The Brothers Bloom is now showing in Australia in limited release. It is currently available in the US on DVD
