This sophomore effort by up-and-comer Rian Johnson, director of the fantastic contemporary noir, Brick, tells the story of a pair of conmen – The Brothers Bloom, played by Adrian Brody and Mark Ruffalo. They decide to take on one last job, which involves taking an eccentric heiress (Rachel Weisz, as a woman who "collects hobbies") around the world on a romantic adventure. Filmed in Serbia, Montenegro, Romania and Prague.
68%157 reviews
David Mamet, the undisputed master of the conman film, is imitated far less than he should be. So it’s nice to see his influence in Rian Johnson’s follow-up to his polarising debut, Brick. From the opening narration by Mamet stalwart Ricky Jay, through to the numerous twisty con games, it’s clear Johnson shares Mamet’s affection for the way and the world of the conman.
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As much as you admire the stagecraft and the technical skills on display, when all is said and done, that's all it is: a fancy, not-quite-two-hour stunt.
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This movie is lively at times, it's lovely to look at, and the actors are persuasive in very difficult material. But around and around it goes, and where it stops, nobody by that point much cares.
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The leads aren't only miscast -- Brody over-mopes and the usually wonderful Ruffalo seems out of sorts as a rascally schemer -- but interest in the con plot fades as the director's bag of tricks empties further.
Full review
A couple of rather Dickensian supporting roles by Robbie Coltrane and Maximilian Schell fall embarrassingly flat as they are more creations of costumes and makeup than actual flesh-and-blood. But then the same can be said for the entire movie.
Full reviewThe Brothers Bloom is available to stream in New Zealand now on Google Play.
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