The Brothers Bloom

Written and Directed by: Rian Johnson

Rated PG-13 for violence, some sensuality and brief strong language

Starring: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi

In rhyming fairy tail fashion we are introduce to two orphaned brothers, Stephen, 13, and Bloom, 10. Kicked out of home after home due to various misdemeanors, the brothers finally settle in a nice little town. Clearly outsiders from the rest of the kids, Bloom desperately wants to adapt, but Stephen has a plan to make a lot of money. He maps out a con for Bloom to get aquainted with the neighborhood kids and tell them a fascinating story about a troll in a cave that knows the way to a secret treasure but needs $30 to show them the way. All the kids chip in and Stephen sets the trap. After the whole con is over, the kids don’t learn exactly what the troll’s treasure was, but they do get a thrill from the chase, the only dry cleaner in town has a shop full of dirty children’s clothes, and Bloom and Stephen walk off with their cut of the dry cleaners money. Everyone gets what they wanted. The sign of a great con.

Cut to twenty-five years later we see Bloom (Brody) and Stephen (Ruffalo) in a burning room with a gun pointed squarely at Bloom’s chest. He’s shot and the gun man runs off. Stephen puts on an act of mourning over his brothers body while Bang Bang (Kikuchi), their silent partner, stands on the sidelines waiting for the show to be over. The trio go to the local bar and celebrate being the best con men in the area. Bloom excuses himself and goes outside for some fresh air, but Stephen joins him and they have an all too familiar conversation about Bloom wanting out of the con business. He tells his brother goodbye and escapes to Montenegro.

Three months later Bloom is awaken by his brother’s smiling face because he has a great new plan. They are going to scam a bored heiress, Penelope Stamp (Weisz), who lives in New Jersey. Certainly this will be their last scam…EVER.

Bloom, Stephen, and Bang Bang scope out Penelope and send Bloom crashing into her. Literally. He learns that she is in fact a millionare, and collects hobbies including: piano and violin playing, juggling, and making regular objects into pin hole cameras. He tells her that is in an antique dealer and will be on a boat soon to collect a treasure. They part ways and Bloom heads to the boat to meet his partners, unsure if Penelope fell for the trap. She does and joins the crew on the boat.

Once the foursome’s adventure begins, it starts to get hard to figure out what is planned and what is coincidental. The crew lets Penelope know that they were once antique smugglers but they swear they have gone straight but she wants in on a heist. There’s a cast of people in on their scheme…or so it seems, but you never really figure out who is playing who until the very end. Lots of foreshadowing and small clues have you thinking one way, then one person will do something that will throw you off track.

I’ve never seen anything from Mark Ruffalo where I didn’t like his performance. And Brody is good as the younger brother who just wants to lead a normal life. But the women are the real stars of the movie. Weisz is great and you really feel Penelope’s shyness and loneliness, but you know that she’s a lot smarter than she seems and could possible be playing the brothers…well at least one of them…maybe. And I never thought I could love a character who literally says three or four words the entire movie, but Kikuchi does a great job with Bang Bang.

A lot of the movie has a very big Wes Anderson (see: The Royal Tennenbaums, The Darjeeling Limited) vibe to it. It’s like you can’t place exactly what time period the movie is taking place in. Classic clothes and cars, and exotic scenery, and then someone will use a cell phone or something to let you know its current. But then I found out that the Rian Johnson also did the movie Brick, which is has the same tone. Sounds and acts like a film noir movie, but takes place in a modern day high school.

I really liked this movie. I don’t think it is the kind of movie for everyone because lately when we think of con movies we think of The Italian Job or Ocean’s 11. This one drags in a few spots, but overall it is enjoyable. Like when it comes on IFC or Showtime later I’ll just put it on wherever it is. Check it out…if you can. Right now it’s limited release.

Grade: B