Con-men films are often at times uninteresting and predictable. This is not one of those films. The Brothers Bloom is Rian Johnson’s follow up to his incredible directorial debut Brick, he has now crafted a welcome entry in the con-man genre and its for sure one of the year’s most delightful films.
The Brothers Bloom follows the con-men duo brothers Bloom (Adrein Brody) and Stephen (Mark Ruffalo). After pulling countless amounts of tricks in their life, Bloom wants to retire. After he runs off to live a new life, Stephen eventually catches up with him offering him one last con. After accepting, Bloom finds himself battling the love he has for the mark of the con, the wealthy and beautiful Penelope Stamp (Rachel Weisz). Soon we see Bloom pulled into a con game, that may or may not be the perfect con.
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The film is filled with constant smart snappy dialogue, forcing Johnson’s script to be constantly on the go. It never divulges into un-needed exposition, causing the story to never stall and an apparent constant flow of kinetic energy. While the third act does shift in tone, feeling a little abrupt, it’s not at all bothersome because of the continued excitement and suspense. There’s plenty of twist and turns thrown in, never crossing the lines of gimmicky, rather adding more mystique and wonder to the story. The ending, which won’t be spoiled, is filled with an ambiguity that is left to be argued over. It may bother or confuse some, but it’s a triumphant climax that leaves one to feel in some of the gaps. Johnson and his array of actors have mastered creating marvelous characters that are engaging, unique, and add more to the satisfying equivocation.
Besides exemplary story telling, Rian Johnson alsobrought a-long a vibrant visual feast, colors rarely ever look so bright or vigorous then they do here. It’s got an energy that many films lack, painting a world that everyone would want to be apart of. Johnson has crafted a highly detailed world that is visually lavishing. His steady-cam movements and color scheme is highly similar to Wes Anderson’s style, but it stands purely on its own. While Brick had a more darker tone to fit in the noir style, this is the complete opposite.
The performances across the board are fantastic. Adrien Brody (The Darjeeling Limited) and Mark Ruffalo (What Doesn’t Kill You) have pitch perfect on-screen chemistry. Their characters are incredibly rich with depth and both a lot of fun to watch. The only problem present here lies with Mark Ruffalo, while fantastic, his character deserves more screen time. He’s as engaging, or even more so, then Bloom is. It’s not that Bloom isn’t a good character, but Stephen is a character that you want to learn more about. Most of the story revolves around Bloom’s love for Penelope Stamp. Luckily Adrien Brody and Rachel Weisz also make for a perfect duo, their relationship being rather fascinating. It’s sweet, charming, and never sappy. All the actors add to the lightheartedness of the film, leaving one with a feeling of happiness and wonder.
While the smart, quirky tone will turn off some viewers, most can’t help but love it. With a fantastic script, vibrant direction, and magnificent performances, The Brother’s Bloom is an excellent film.