Review: The Brothers Bloom (2009)

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Adrien Brody (The Pianist, The Darjeeling Limited), Mark Ruffalo (Zodiac, 13 Going On 30), Rachel Weisz (The Fountain, The Constant Gardner), Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter, Tomorrow Never Dies)

The Deal: Stephen (Ruffalo) and Bloom (Brody) spent their childhood bouncing between foster homes while slowly learning to be top-notch con artists. Bloom craves to live an "unwritten life", one not dreamed up by his brother. Ready to retire, Bloom agrees to pull one last con. The target is a single and bored New Jersey heiress named Penelope (Weisz). As the con moves forward, a genuine romance brews between Bloom and Penelope. They tell her they deal in antiquities, and she eagerly wants to help them swindle millions of dollars, joining them on their adventure. As Stephen's intricate web of deceit grows, Bloom slowly wonders if his brother has devised the most dangerous and life-threatening con yet.

Thoughts: The Brothers Bloom isn't necessarily a film that will leave you breathless. It's likely to fade over time, but while it's here, it does serve as a clever and entertaining film. Stephen really has a knack for extremely clever and successful cons, even at a young age, and the relationship between the two brothers is constantly challenging both on screen and off. The final great con Bloom participates in is full of unexpected turns, so many in fact, that it's hard to know what is true and what isn't, even when you know there's a con going on. The premise is that good, but it tends to develop a little too slowly for its own good.

The biggest strength of the film is its acting. Ruffalo, Brody, and Weisz are all quite good in their roles. Ruffalo and Brody truly feel like exceptionally close brothers who have seen a lot together, and Brody's on-screen romance with Weisz never feels forced, always natural. This level of acting is critical for the film's success, as the plot gets quite complex and the audience constantly needs well developed and acted characters to fall back on.

Verdict: Though it may not leave a long lasting impression, for now, The Brothers Bloom is an entertaining, well acted, and clever con film that's worth watching. ☆☆☆1/2