THE BROTHERS BLOOM Review

All you’ve heard was right, THE BROTHERS BLOOM is indeed one of the most fun you’ll have at the movies this year. Con-man story doesn’t get this tempting. It’s an old concept seen through the eyes of Rian Johnson whose… originality deserves a best screenplay nomination. The story is silly hilarious, surprisingly full of heart, ridiculously clever, an absolute gem. Ruffalo, Brody, Weisz, and Kikuchi will charm and captivate you every hypnotic step of the way.

Welcome to the world of “The Brothers Bloom,” where deception is an art and nothing is as it seems. The brothers have perfected the art of swindling fortunes through years of fraternal teamwork. Now they’ve decided to take on one last spectacular job—luring a beautiful and eccentric heiress into an elaborate plot that takes them around the world.
For as long as they can remember, the Brothers Bloom have had only each other to depend on. From their childhood in a long series of gloomy foster homes to their highflying lives as international con artists, Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrien Brody) have shared everything. Stephen brilliantly concocts intricate stories that the brothers live out, but he’s still searching for the perfect con. Meanwhile, Bloom yearns for “an unwritten life”—a real adventure, one not dreamed up by his old brother.

Some may find it confusing as to what genre it should fall under, comedy, drama, thriller? But I think that’s where the genius of Rian Johnson lies, he successfully blends all elements into one without losing the core theme that binds them together. The structure is so well crafted, I admire how he can make you scratch your head, wondering if what you’re about to see is con or real… and when it’s revealed, you wouldn’t feel dumb at all….entertained or impressed what you’d feel. Anything is possible, anybody is a possible marked man, the only hard part is to tell the lies from the truth, the game from the ones who get played.

Rian Johnson created characters that are unique and likable, each one has interesting skills to put on the table and not one towers over the other. You’ll never forget what they do and what they say. Writer/director Rian Johnson smartly puts in the effective humor and comical moments that will tickle you even if you resist because the they are so silly you can’t help but chuckle at what you just heard. I’m sitting there laughing my ass off thinking ‘wow, I’ve heard that one before but never heard it on screen, finally!’ Montages are usually time-consuming but not when you’re watching THE BROTHERS BLOOM, you can’t wait to see what compilation of scenes Rian Johnson might have in order to connect you with the characters. There’s always something going on in between, with a flip of a card

I remember Rachel Weisz was in a con movie years go titled CONFIDENCE but THE BROTHERS BLOOM excels better due to the fact that this story has more kick, more cool and more heart because it centers on these two brothers and this lifestyle and job they had to live all these years just to survive. Right from the beginning, we get to see how they found their calling. By the way, this movie probably has one of the best opening sequence/intro I’ve seen in recent years.
Andrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo make the perfect con brothers. Brody is no doubt one of the most gifted actors of our time, as the younger brother Bloom who wants to get out of the game, you can tell from the longing in Brody’s face, but he also knows that there’s nothing else he can do but to cling on to his older brother Stephen, played by Mark Ruffalo who gives a fantastic performance as the brain, the mastermind behind the plans.

He said that the perfect con is where everybody gets what they wanted and that’s exactly portrayed in the last scene. I’m going to spoil it for you but it’s evident for Stephen that the only way his younger brother can ever be free is if he frees himself from Bloom for good. I’m very jealous at the character that Rian Johnson wrote for Rachel Weisz, the ability to acquire any hobby has got to be about the most awesome thing in the world. There are codes that the brothers live by and one of them is to not fall in love with the girl but Stephen notices that Bloom will never be happy until they break their own rules. All their life, they’ve been scripting characters for themselves, how we’ll get to see them stop and start a well written life is the objective of this movie that will get you watching til the very end.
Last but not least, Rinko Kikuchi proves that she can play with the big boys. She doesn’t have many lines here but her facial expressions will get you hooked, she’s sexy, intimidating, and dangerously good at what she does. What a hottie!

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