Movie review: “The Brothers Bloom”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman. 3 1/2 out of 4 stars, with special praise for Rinko Kikuchi, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz and Mark Ruffalo’s terrific performances.
With “Brothers Bloom,” everyone wins
Magical realism, eccentric characters and quality con men capering mix in a sparkling cinematic concoction in “The Brothers Bloom,” writer-director Rian Johnson’s follow-up to his acclaimed 2005 debut “Brick.”
Johnson effectively hooks you with the film’s seven-minute opening, which introduces orphaned brothers and budding shysters Stephen and Bloom (Max Records and Zachary Gordon). But he doesn’t give us the standard childhood intro, instead recruiting sleight of hand expert Ricky Jay to narrate in rhyming verse the tale of the siblings’ inventive first con.
From there, the film jumps ahead to the latest adventure of the Brothers Bloom, who are still building scams and working angles. The older, Stephen (Mark Ruffalo), writes the elaborate schemes with the mindset that in the best cons everyone wins, even the mark.
Bloom (Oscar winner Adrien Brody) plays the starring role in all of Stephen’s stories, and that usually involves building a rapport with their target. They are ably assisted by stylish and nearly silent explosives expert Bang Bang (Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi, who nimbly steals the film).
But Bloom has grown tired of swindling and longs to live “an unwritten life.” So, Stephen promises to devise one last big job. That sounds like such a con flick cliche, but thankfully Johnson doesn’t let it become one.
For their final performance, Stephen tasks Bloom with getting close to Penelope Stamp (Oscar winner Rachel Weisz), a beautiful but oddball heiress who spends her time “collecting hobbies” and knows how to rap, skateboard and create a pinhole camera out of virtually any fruit.
Naïve and lonely, Penelope is easily drawn into Stephen’s complicated scheme, which entails traveling to Europe to obtain a rare antiquity – and involves Penelope making a $1 million investment.
In the great con film tradition, “The Brothers Bloom” follows a twisty, slippery plot that makes it hard to figure out just who is getting tricked and how.
With its timeless quality – Penelope drives a Lamborghini but travels to Europe by steamship – and quirky characters played with great zeal by talented actors, “The Brothers Bloom” offers clever, lively entertainment.
- BAM
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