The Brothers Bloom (2008)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Rian Johnson

Writer (WGA):

Rian Johnson (written by)

Release Date:

22 May 2009 (Sweden)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

They'd never let the truth come between them

Plot:

The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job - showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world.

Plot Keywords:

Con | Eccentric | Binoculars | Slow Motion | Chase

Awards:

1 nomination

US Showtimes:

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Cast

Rachel Weisz	...	Penelope Stamp
Adrien Brody	...	Bloom
Mark Ruffalo	...	Stephen
Rinko Kikuchi	...	Bang Bang
Robbie Coltrane	...	The Curator
Maximilian Schell	...	Diamond Dog
Ricky Jay	...	Narrator
Zachary Gordon	...	Young Bloom
Max Records	...	Young Stephen
Andy Nyman	...	Charleston
Noah Segan	...	The Duke
Nora Zehetner	...	Rose
Ram Bergman	...	Himself
Craig Johnson	...	Apple Cart Vendor
Dubravko Jovanovic	...	Albino

Also Known As:

Penelope (USA) (original script title)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

USA:113 min | Canada:109 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44635) | Canada:14A (Toronto International Film Festival) | Australia:M | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Sweden:11 | Hong Kong:IIA | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bar, Montenegro

Company:

Endgame Entertainment

Trivia:

The three main characters are based on characters from James Joyce's Ulysses (which in turn is based on Homer's Odyssey). Stephen is based on Stephen Daedalus, who was a writer in two of Joyce's novels; in The Brothers Bloom, he treats cons as stories to be written. Bloom is based on Leopold Bloom who is wandering around Dublin, trying to find himself and his way back to his wife, Penelope. In The Brothers Bloom, Bloom does not who he truly is, so he is figuratively lost. Ultimately, he finds his way to Penelope. In The Odyssey, Penelope is Odysseus' wife who is waiting for him through all of his travels; in the same way, Penelope waits for Bloom in all of his wanderings.

Quotes:

Stephen: See, you've reached an unethical conclusion. You think you want out, but you don't. One last con.
Bloom: Where are we going?
Stephen: New Jersey.
Stephen: ...I'll get my coat...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Building 'Brick' (2006) (V)

Part Con-Man Caper, Part Romantic Comedy, Part Family Dramedy, All Entertainment!

Rian Johnson, the writer/director of the Dashiell Hammett-inspired 2005 high school noir BRICK, proves he's not a flash in the pan with his new action-comedy-adventure, THE BROTHERS BLOOM (TBB) It's hard for me to sing this movie's praises without giving away its many twists and fun surprises, so let me just say it's a deft blend of quirky, globe-trotting con-man caper, daffy romantic comedy, and surprisingly poignant family dramedy about brothers at a crossroads, not to mention gorgeous to look at with its colorful surroundings and a fashion sense that's hip and sharp without being obnoxious.

The whole cast is wonderful, but I was particularly taken by Rachel Weisz and Adrien Brody. Weisz blossoms like a flower filmed in time-lapse photography as Penelope, the lonely heiress who's thrilled to throw herself into the Bloom brothers' shenanigans using the skills she's gleaned from other people's hobbies. I particularly enjoyed her goofy/passionate reactions when she's kissed by Adrien Brody's character, Bloom (that's the only name he's addressed by in the film; it's one of the few things that's never explained), and we realize this is the very first time Penelope has EVER been kissed by ANY man! As Bloom, Brody is a fine match for Weisz, doing a gentle comedic take on the soulful characters he does so well as he finds himself falling in love with Penelope, longing for an "unscripted life" instead of living just to populate the elaborate, "Russian-novel"-like con games created by older, craftier brother Stephen (Mark Ruffalo, an endearingly scruffy rogue). Rinko Kikuchi steals every scene as walking sight gag Bang Bang, so-called because she's a whiz with explosives, practicing on toys cobbled together from old Barbie dolls and other toys.

Robbie Coltrane and Maximilian Schell round out the cast quite nicely indeed, particularly Schell's colorful turn as the dangerous Diamond Dog, the Fagin type who taught the brothers everything they know. Admittedly, it would have been nice to know exactly how Penelope talked her way out of the trouble she got into with the Prague police -- another of the aforementioned few things that's never explained. I was left assuming Penelope simply bought her way out of it; she IS rich, after all. :-) Still, the film was so entertaining otherwise, it seems churlish to nit-pick.

For those of you who loved BRICK, keep an eye out for some of its cast members, including its femme fatale Nora Zehetner in an early scene. TBB is not only a thoroughly enjoyable con-man movie, but I'd go so far as to say it's the most purely entertaining film Adrien Brody has been in so far (yes, even more so than Peter Jackson's lollapalooza KING KONG remake). It's a miracle TBB actually showed up here in our little burg at all, so look for it in your area. You'll be glad you did!