Stephen and Bloom are not only brothers, but they are also a pair of con-artists extraordinaire, racking up a reputation that’s just as impressive as the sum of money they’ve swindled from their marks over the years. But Bloom, who’s well-played with comedic angst by Adrian Brody, has grown sick of playing the con game all these years. He’s now thirty five and wants something more to life than living vicariously through the carefully-planned con games that are dreamt up by Stephen (played with fast-witted charm by Mark Rufolo). And so, after they pull their last job, Bloom retires to Montenegro, where he sulks alone by the sea--at least until Stephen comes looking for him.
Stephen has found what has got to be the perfect mark: Penelope, an eccentric young woman who’s filthy rich, and who lives all by herself in a massive mansion. Her parents are dead, and she’s been a recluse within the mansion her whole life. Stephen figures her to be the perfect gullible target for a con job--one where he has Bloom falling in love with her. Reluctantly, Bloom is drawn back into the con artist world with this latest scheme. But as the brothers begin their latest gig--working once more with Bang Bang, their enigmatic Japanese explosive expert--neither of them could see two unexpected things happening: just how truly odd Penelope is, and the fact that Bloom falls hard for her.
Rachel Weisz (the Mummy movies) is very funny and enchanting as the off-the-wall Penelope, who really needs to work more on her social skills when she’s not crashing her Lamborghini into everything. Weisz steals the film as not only does her Penelope gets caught up in the brothers’ scheme, but she becomes a more than willing co-conspirator. Director Rian Johnson, who also wrote the script, has created a breezy, extremely funny comedy that pays attention to all the details, much like a good thriller. But the characters are all so well-drawn out, thanks to both the great writing and acting, that you can’t help but root for them from the beginning.
The superb cast is rounded out by Robbie Coltrane as The Curator, Maximilian Schell as Diamond Dog, and Rinko Kikuchi as the endearing Bang Bang, who manages to say more with just a look or a gesture than most actors can with a soliloquy. The film engages the viewer with an easy-going, whimsical tone, with a practiced eye towards the minute story details. Thanks to its various twist and turns, The Brothers Bloom is a movie that you must pay attention to, much like a good con artist working a sidewalk shell game. But it’s just an enjoyable lark of a film, with a cast of characters whom you miss the moment the film’s over. I’m already looking forward to my second viewing.
--SF
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