The Brothers Bloom (2008)

The Brothers Bloom are the best con men in the world, swindling millionaires with complex scenarios of lust and intrigue. Now they've decided to take on one last job - showing a beautiful and eccentric heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world.

Director:

Rian Johnson

Writer:

Rian Johnson

Stars:

Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rachel Weisz	...	Penelope
Adrien Brody	...	Bloom
Mark Ruffalo	...	Stephen
Rinko Kikuchi	...	Bang Bang
Robbie Coltrane	...	Curator
Maximilian Schell	...	Diamond Dog
Ricky Jay	...	Narrator (voice)
Zachary Gordon	...	Young Bloom
Max Records	...	Young Stephen
Andy Nyman	...	Charleston
Noah Segan	...	The Duke
Nora Zehetner	...	Rose
Ram Bergman	...	Himself
Craig Johnson	...	Apple Cart Vendor
Dubravko Jovanovic	...	Albino

Storyline

Brothers - older Stephen and three years junior Bloom - have been con artists since they were kids. Stephen is the mastermind, for who the intricacy of the story used in the con is as important as the positive outcome of the swindle. Bloom is the main character of Stephen's stories, the character he considers the anti-hero. As adults, they travel the world and never enlist the same people twice in their cons, except for their consistent sidekick, the mysterious and primarily silent Bang Bang, a Japanese woman who just appeared in their lives one day and who has a penchant for blowing things up. As Bloom hits his mid-thirties, he wants to quit the business as he is losing his own identity to that of the characters he portrays; he doesn't know anymore what is real and what is make-believe. Stephen talks him into one last con, the mark to be the eccentric, lonely but beautiful New Jersey heiress, Penelope Stamp. Penelope's primary past-time in life is to, as she calls it, "borrow hobbies...

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Plot Keywords:

con man | neo screwball comedy | nitroglycerin | heiress | eccentric | 

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Taglines:

They'd never let the truth come between them

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, some sensuality and brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Czech Japanese

Release Date:

19 June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Penelope

Filming Locations:

Romania

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$90,400, 17 May 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,519,627, 2 August 2009

Company Credits

Production Co:

Endgame Entertainment,Ram Bergman Productions,The Weinstein Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rachel Weisz learned how to play piano, violin, accordion, banjo, ping pong, do karate, ride a unicycle, juggle, and even skateboard for her role as Penelope.

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Goofs

When Stephen rings the doorbell outside Max's apartment in Prague, Max blasts his front door with a shotgun; the circle of wood in the door that will be blasted out is visible before the gunshot.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: As far as con man stories go, I think I've heard them all. Of grifters, ropers, faro-fixers; tails drawn long and tall. But if one bears a bookmark in the confidence man's tome, it would be that of Penelope, and of the brothers Bloom.

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Connections

References Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

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Soundtracks

The Fabulist
Written and Performed by Nathan Johnson
Courtesy of Choplogic Music - Under license from Nathan Johnson

User Reviews

Could've been good

If you're going to watch this movie don't expect satisfaction at the end of the road, just enjoy the trip.

I gave it a 5 because the acting was great. The plot however wasn't. It starts off with some promise, the life of the young brothers bloom. As one commentator mentioned, the characters deep wants and desires and their interaction with each other is developed in detail. However, what faults this movie is it's not in the least believable. You see, there are some things in the movie that should've been explained.

They are not necessary for the character development but they are essential to explain some of the events that happened which help advance the plot and even to explain how and why the end was as it was. I think that the screenwriters spent enough time on character development and they had great actors to back that up but such little time on the plot and its cohesion that it lacks believability.

Could've been good ...