Today’s quick review: The Brothers Bloom. Bloom and Stephen were once a troublesome pair of brothers in the foster care system. When Stephen noticed that his shy brother was having a hard time getting what he wanted out of life, he began to dream up elaborate cons for Bloom to play a part in. The cons worked: not only did they fool their targets, but they fooled Bloom as well, offering him a fleeting happiness that he could not find otherwise. Thus began the successful careers of the duo of lifelong con artists. Now, as an adult, Bloom (Adrien Brody) finds himself living a life without authenticity. Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) promises him that after one last con, Bloom can walk away from the game forever. Their target is Penelope (Rachel Weisz), a wealthy and charming shut-in who “collects” hobbies and has little in the way of common sense. As their convoluted con takes them all the way around Europe, Bloom begins to fall for Penelope. Soon he must decide whether his feelings are genuine or just another one of Stephen’s cons, and whether the written life can have any meaning.
The Brothers Bloom sets out to explore the boundary between reality and fiction and accomplishes this stunningly. As the con grows more complex, so does the question of how much of it was scripted. Stephen’s clear motive of making his brother happy supports the hypothesis that everything was planned, but there are twists in the con’s execution that even Stephen could not have seen coming. Eventually, the line between written and unwritten blurs to the point where the audience must draw its own conclusions: Has Bloom finally stumbled into an unwritten life or, as Penelope says, “only a badly written one”?
The Brothers Bloom mixes literary themes with light comedy, a dash of drama, and heaps of style to produce a unique gem of a movie. The film has immense replay value. Each viewing reveals a little bit more: unnoticed background gags, extra bits of foreshadowing, or hidden depths to the movie’s themes. The actors fit the tone of the world perfectly and vividly bring the script to life. Adrien Brody plays a sullen, passive Bloom who is gradually drawn out of his shell by Penelope. Rachel Weisz brings a sense of innocence and adventure to Penelope that Bloom badly needs. Behind it all is Stephen, his glib, outgoing brother. Mark Ruffalo plays the part with charm and nuance, a self-interested con man who nonetheless cares deeply for his brother. The trio are accompanied on their adventures by Bang Bang, the brothers’ mute and sarcastic assistant. Rinko Kikuchi does an excellent job with the role, and her peculiar activities and playful jabs at the brothers add yet another layer of subtle comedy to the film.
The execution of the film is just as strong as its acting and writing. The direction emphasizes the light-hearted comedy of the film while deepening its dramatic moments. The camera lingers on the little moments of absurdity that permeate the brothers’ lives, but the consistent tone of the universe allows the movie to be serious when it needs to be. The upbeat jazz soundtrack gives the movie extraordinary flavor. Roaring trumpet, playful clarinet, and rollicking snare drum herald the brothers’ glorious cons, while a sweet theme for piano and harp underscores the movie’s more sentimental moments.
Even the smallest details of the movie add to its style and charm. Bloom pantomimes blowing his brains out, then heads to the roof for some air, where a large piece of graffiti depicts a man with two fingers to his head; his reflection is interrupted by a loud bang as Stephen opens the door to join him on the roof. In another scene, Penelope describes her insulated childhood and how she learned to “cheat” while showing off a card trick, pulling four aces and four queens off a shuffled deck. In yet another scene, Stephen nearly blows the entire con by slipping in a too-cute literary allusion that Penelope catches. Every scene has details like this, layers of symbolism, humor, or coincidence, that make The Brothers Bloom a delight to watch. The brothers are every bit as stylish as con artists should be, yet every bit as fallible as characters in a comedy need to be.
The Brothers Bloom is a phenomenal film with a fun, stylish tone and a deep, rewarding story. However, stylized as it is, the movie is bound to be hit or miss. Those who enjoy its style will delight in all its little details, while those less enamored of it will find the film to be a waste of time. Those looking for just a comedy may also be disappointed by the movie’s dramatic elements. While justified by the story, the more serious moments of the movie do put a damper on the otherwise light-hearted tone. The ambiguities of the plot may be another turnoff. Although the ending is not a cliffhanger, not every question receives a concrete answer, and the audience must supply its own resolution by filling in the gaps.
But for those who like their comedies with a bit of depth, who like their movies with a bit of style, and who enjoy piecing together puzzles, The Brothers Bloom is an excellent choice. The themes about storytelling, the connections between meta-levels of the story, and the subtle gags and symbolism provide ample intellectual meat for the observant viewer, while the wry comedy, upbeat style, and sweet romance provide plenty of sentiment for the heart as well. Give it a watch, and decide for yourself whether there really is such a thing as an unwritten life and whether, in the end, the question really matters. 6.9 out of 10 on IMDB.