THE BROTHERS BLOOM
US, 2009, 117 minutes, Colour.
Rachel Weisz, Adrienne Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Winco Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane, Maximilian Schell, Ricky Jay, Zachary Gordon, Max Records.
Directed by Rian Johnson.
The Brothers Bloom may be a comedy which appeals to an offbeat sensibility and requires an acquired taste. It seems akin to a Wes Anderson comedy and his work is also an acquired taste, exercises in eccentric comedy with bizarre characters in oddball situations (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Life Aquatic, Darjeeling Limited). Comments about The Brothers Bloom refer to it as off-kilter! (Johnson's other film was the intriguing Brick, a story of a teenager taking on criminals to find his girlfriend who has disappeared.)
The Brothers Bloom is both serious and comic. They are two orphans, Stephen and Bloom, who move from foster home to foster home as children. Stephen is shrewd and invents scams (with elaborately detailed plans), even conning the children at school. When they grow up (Mark Ruffalo is Stephen and Adrien Brody is Bloom), Stephen is still creating scenarios that they play out, always featuring Bloom, dangerous cons which could get them killed – and they tangle with a mysterious French importer (Robbie Coltrane) and a sinister Russian dealer (Maximilian Schell). They also have a blonde Japanese assistant who rarely speaks.
One of the intriguing aspects of the film is watching the scam develop and pay off, not without risk.
They decide to target a wealthy New Jersey recluse, Penelope (Rachel Weisz) and they embark on a final con with her which takes them to different countries. Stephen is still in control. Bloom has fallen for Penelope. Will they get away with the scam, especially when pursued by Russian gunmen?
No predictions as to who might like this off-kilter story – you might. Or, feeling the need for some more balance, you might not!
1.An offbeat comedy? Off-kilter? Comedy-drama?
2.The style of storytelling, American/Jewish/European? The settings in Mexico, Japan, Europe, America? The narration? The opinions about the characters? The chapter headings and the development of the confidence tricks?
3.The exotic settings, the contrast between New Jersey and St Petersburgh?, Russia? Prague? Montegro and the coast? The New Jersey mansion? Japan? The musical score and the variety of moods?
4.The introduction to the brothers, the various families that fostered them, their behaviour, the differences, difficulties? The authorities?
5.Stephen as the older brothers, full of ideas? Calling his younger brother Bloom? Bloom as a follower? The initial confidence plan, the story about the cave, the treasure? The children enthralled? Paying their two dollars? The reactions? The authorities? ‘Larceny’ written on their documents? The mud and the deal with the drycleaners to clean the children’s clothes? Bloom and his fascination with the young girl?
6.The brothers as adults, the differing personalities, the difference between older and younger, the influence of the older on the younger? The younger as the norm for the older brother’s plans and behaviour?
7.The background of the French importer, the discussions, his warnings? Maximilian Schell as Diamond Dog, sinister, his role in the brothers’ lives, his plans, Russia, the smuggling and his men? The violence?
8.Stephen and his plans? The detailed steps and their being written down, following them? Stephen and his sense of drama, extroverted, accomplishing his ends? Bloom as a pawn in Stephen’s plans, his role in the plots? Always wanting the con to be his last? Being able to be persuaded? His final escape?
9.The adventures in Europe, the various types, money, the dramatic set-ups, the shootings, fake blood, the escapes?
10.Targeting Penelope, the plan, her New Jersey mansion, her Lamborghini, careless driving, the crashes, Bloom on his bike, Penelope being upset, taking him to the house, their talking, her explaining herself to him? Stephen seeing her as a mark? Yet Bloom attracted?
11.Penelope, her life, alone, the range of her hobbies and talents, music, martial arts, her achievement? Open to be taken in by the brothers?
12.Bang Bang, her Japanese background? Not having the language? Her karaoke songs? Her friendship with Penelope, the phone call about Bloom’s whereabouts? The final set-up, the faking of her death, her escape?
13.Going to the voyage, passengers, the deck games, Bang Bang’s moods? Penelope becoming involved? Prague, the set-up for the stealing, the volume, her smart talk, her getting out of being caught?
14.Bloom, the truth, going to Montenegro, in isolation, Penelope tracking him down with Bang Bang’s help?
15.Stephen, Penelope and the last mark? Diamond Dog? The money, wiring the money, St Petersburg, Stephen being abducted, the Russians, the shooting, the car chase and the crash? Stephen and his being shot – Bloom and his escape, the issue of the blood – and its becoming brown, indicating that it was real rather than fake?
16.Stephen, his life, achieving his plans, his life for Bloom, self-sacrifice?
17.Bloom on his own, Penelope and a new and different life?
18.The morals of the story, off-kilter and ironic?
