From an early age brothers Stephen (Ruffalo) and Bloom (Brody) learned to con people. Stephen was the storyteller, concocting elaborate tales that hinged on the mark making a specific decision. Bloom is the main character in each story... the one who can gain a mark's trust and be the face of the operation. After 25 years, they are well-known among their peers. They are always successful and use a different team each time, with the exception of Japanese explosion expert Bang-Bang (Kikuchi). Stephen is content with his chosen lifestyle, but Bloom wants something more... a real, unplanned life.
But he agrees to one final con. Their mark is secluded heiress Penelope Stamp (Weisz) who wants a little excitement. She literally crashes into in Bloom, and they bond over a desire for something more from life. Penelope finds and masters various hobbies, such as creating pinhole cameras for everyday objects, but never leaves her home. When Bloom offers her the chance to go on a trip, she doesn't hesitate to join. Soon they are swept in a whirlwind of antique dealing and smuggling... and the presence of their old mentor, Diamond Dog (Maximilian Schell), who seeks vengeance against the brothers.
Once again director Rian Johnson delivered a complicated story with intriguing characters. The plot twists and turns, keeping the audience guessing. The main question is "what is real?" And the audience learns the answer as the characters do. That is both a strength and weakness of the film. I appreciate that the plot is unpredictable and the ending is not completely known until the end (though there is some discrepancy about the final outcomes)... but some of the twists could have been cut, it drags on too long in some places with all the layers.
The cast is great and believable in their roles. The most memorable character has to be Bang-Bang. She doesn't talk much and doesn't show much emotion, but steals every scene. The character is so much fun, whether she is beating Bloom at cards or making cameras with Penelope or dancing with Stephen or blowing up Barbie dolls, you can't look away. Brody and Ruffalo have an interesting on screen chemistry, and fit into their roles well.... and Weisz makes her closed off character likeable, which couldn't be easy. I could do without the Diamond Dog character. Perhaps more exposition on his relationship with the brothers would make the character more interesting / relevant.
Watch the beginning closely for cameos by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Nora Zehetner, the stars of Johnson's first (previous) film "Brick."
I look forward to future projects by Rian Johnson.
The Brothers Bloom (2008) 114 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for violence, some sensuality and brief strong language.
Director: Rian Johnson
Starring: Rachel Weisz as Penelope
Adrien Brody as Bloom
Mark Ruffalo as Stephen
Rinko Kikuchi as Bang Bang
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