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In a summer full of big explosions and big budgets, "The Brothers Bloom" comes at you with subtle pleasures that eventually add up to a more satisfying time at the movies than people are going to experience with many of this season's big blockbusters.
The second feature of director Rian Johnson, who found a cult following for his slick debut "Brick," "The Brothers Bloom" features a sturdy cast and a strong, clever script that only occasionally strays too far into film-festival quirkiness.
Essentially, the film is a classic con man movie — a descendant of "The Sting," kissing cousins with "The Grifters" and "House of Games." Unlike, say, an "Ocean's Eleven," "The Brothers Bloom" is more about the characters than it is the crime. And it's got some good ones to work with.
In the wonderfully done opening (narrated by con man extraordinaire Ricky Jay), we're introduced to young orphan brothers Stephen and Bloom, who embark on careers of deception very early in life.
Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) is the smooth-talking idea man. He scripts complex schemes with their own flow charts and doesn't have a hint of conscience. Adrien Brody is the melancholy younger brother, Bloom, whose only life seems to be the one that Stephen writes for him.
Bloom is sad and weary, and wants to leave his brother to find "an unwritten life," but Stephen draws him in for — as in every con man movie — one last big score.
This one involves the perfect mark: a beautiful, eccentric, sheltered heiress, wonderfully portrayed by Rachel Weisz. Weisz plays Penelope as ditzy but not dumb and displays a excellent gift for screwball and slapstick humor. Her bored billionaire is easily the single most interesting character in the film.
There are some nifty supporting performances, too, most notably Rinko Kikuchi (who earned an Oscar nomination for her role as a deaf Japanese schoolgirl in "Babel") as Stephen's nearly-mute cohort Bang Bang. Robbie Coltrane is also good as another grifter known as the Curator.
"The Brothers Bloom" works as both a romance and a caper. It's not perfect, but it's thoroughly charming and it has a soul. No, it's not quite "The Sting," and the conclusion isn't entirely satisfying, but you won't be asking for your money back when it's over.
Rental Recommendation: The con game was played for pure laughs in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Grade: B+
E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com
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