The Brothers Bloom, Con-man Comedy Triumph
Director Rian Johnson Makes a Powerful Return to the Silver Screen
Sep 25, 2009
Rian Johnson became famous for the first film he wrote and directed, entitled Brick. It was a story done in film-noir style set in a present day California high school. The main character became a detective of sorts trying to unravel a story whose events and language fit more into the 1940s than the 2000s. It was a masterpiece that people still continue to rave about. The success of Brick enabled Johnson to secure a much higher budget and more popular stars for his second film, and The Brothers Bloom does anything but disappoint.
Star-studded Cast and Exotic Locales
The two namesake brothers in the film are played by Academy Award winner Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo. Their accomplice, a mysterious Japanese woman who does not speak English and is only known as Bang Bang, is played by Academy Award nominee Rinko Kinkuchi of Babel fame. The mark for the perfect con is none other than Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz, who plays an eccentric shut-in who collects hobbies (like juggling chainsaws, balero dancing, and ping pong). There is also a small part played by BAFTA nominee Robbie Coltrane (more famously known as Hagrid). Needless to say the cast alone warrants viewing The Brothers Bloom. In addition, the adventures of the characters take them across the world. From New Jersey to Prague to Mexico to St. Petersburg, the locations that set the backdrop from the film are breathtaking and add even more to the mystique that surrounds The Brothers Bloom.
Well-written and Executed Mystery
Rian Johnson got a lot of acclaim for how Brick was written, with the interesting language and how the story unfolded. He exceeded any expectations that may have been had with The Brothers Bloom. The intricate plot is set up wonderfully by a beginning sequence of how the two brothers got their start as confidence men, and then dives into a mystery that is beautifully spun by Johnson. From the beginning the viewer thinks they know where the story is headed, pretty sure of how it is going to end up. Of course, it doesn't end up that way and instead the audience is left guessing two or three more times at how the events are going to unfold. When the story is finally revealed it is not quite what anyone expects, but it turns out to be exactly what everyone hoped for, whether they had known it before or not. It is indeed the perfect con, not by Mark Ruffalo's Stephen, but by Rian Johnson.
The Brothers Bloom is not simply about the mystery though, it is also a comedy. While we are following the brothers across the world on their quest to fulfill the perfect con, we are afforded a number of laughs at every turn. From the very beginning and the brothers' first con, laughs are to be had right along with the mystery and the drama that keeps us watching every second of the way. It is an excellently done film and a wonderful piece for second-time writer/director Rian Johnson. And if you were a fan of Brick, don't miss the cameos in the scene after the first con by Noah Segan, Nora Zehtner, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The Brothers Bloom DVD will be in stores and available for rent on September 29th, 2009.
