Respond/React: The Brothers Bloom
I was a big fan of Rian Johnson's "Brick" and I loved the first few minutes that was posted online (and embedded on SoulHonky not so long ago) so Brothers Bloom was one of my most highly anticipated films of the year. And while the film was fun and clever, I definitely can see where people had a problem with it.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie but it's probably only a solid B. It's like Wes Anderson-lite meets David Mamet for kids. That sounds a lot worse than it's supposed to but I think it fits. The movie is clever, has some great dialogue, and some very funny moments. The star of the movie was Rinko Kikuchi (from Babel) who pretty much steals the film. Rachel Wiesz is great and this film really solidifies my belief that she is basically what everyone expected Winona Ryder to be before she flamed out.
If you feel like going to a movie, I don't think you can go wrong by opting for the Brothers Bloom but it really isn't the type of film that you need to seek out. It's a recommended rental.
For a more spoiler heavy reaction, keep reading
The key to any con (besides thinking that, you know, there's only one key to a con) is to know when to get out. This is the film's biggest issue. The pacing is great for most of the film but then it just never seems to end. Even worse, the twists that kept the film going weren't all that intriguing.
More problematic than that was the central relationship between the Brothers. I never really bought into the idea that Bloom couldn't let go so I really didn't understand why he just couldn't go after the girl. I never bought that he was completely incapable of being happy. Because I never was along for that ride, the ending seemed completely anti-climatic.
I really feel like the whole Diamond Dog element and Bloom's fatal flaw could have been nixed and the whole film would have been a tighter production if it only followed one single con. As much as I liked Rian Johnson's direction, this might have been a case in which another person at the helm might have been able to focus the story more and deliver a better final product. While the movie might not be "Brick" (even with the random Joe Gordon-Levitt cameo and an appearance by the femme fatale of Johnson's earlier film), it's not a bad second act. I'll definitely be interested in checking out Rian Johnson's next venture.
