For Love of Quirks
The Brothers Bloom is a heady mix of what delights - and what irks - me about movies.
Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo star as brothers who seem destined to be con men. As the older brother, Ruffalo’s character Stephen, writes complicated plots in which his brother, called simply “Bloom,” is typecast as the vulnerable anti-hero, weaving his way into the lives of wealthy marks. It’s implied that they’ve met with great success over the years, but Brody’s Bloom wants out. He wants to live “an unwritten life” outside of his brother’s storytelling. Stephen talks him into one last job, though, and the adventure begins.
The actors in this film are divine. Rachel Weisz as their final mark is a fabulous casting choice, and her chemistry with Brody is totally believable. Rinko Kikuchi as Bang Bang is – though she doesn’t utter but ten words – genius. Even Ruffalo, whom I don’t normally like, fits the bill.
Each scene is shot with meaningful minutiae, offering different layers for the viewer to digest. The stylized quirkiness of the clothing and mannerisms of the characters, the scene transitions, and even the music were lovely. The laughs in this movie are not played for guffaws, but rather earnest chuckles and appreciation of the smart comedy/caper.
But…(and I hate when there’s a but!)…the movie is about 20 minutes too long. It’s as if in the final bend, the movie becomes a bit self-indulgent of its characters and quirkiness, and what felt before like depth becomes drudgery. I was ultimately satisfied by the end, but could have been happier with the ending I had written in my own mind (and much earlier in the film).
Motherly advice: this movie is rated PG-13, and there is a moderate amount of swearing, one scene of a woman’s naked backside, some violence, one awkward scene related to sexual matters, and a scene of implied sex. I would recommend it for teens 15 and older, and since there is a Clearplay filter for it, I would recommend using it. The language and sexual material are not vital to any of the plot points and could be removed without altering one’s understanding of the story. I also think mid- to older teens would enjoy this movie, since the cons are easy enough to follow, the “quirk factor” is fun, and the characters are engaging.
Stacey Nerdin-An Un-Written Movie Mom
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