This is an unfailingly delightful and rewarding film.. I was absolutely charmed by it, enjoyed its humor greatly and was very impressed with its creative use of settings. However, all of these statements suggest a light-hearted, frivolous, even superficial experience. Wrong, very wrong. This is a profound account of a dysfunctional but co-dependent brother+brother relationship. This film probes deeply into what can go wrong when the love is strong but the liking is almost non-existent. Many of the scenes are whimsical and the whimsy is deftly handled, but when issues become serious, the film rises effortlessly to seriousness. The performances of the three principal players are incandescent, with Mark Ruffalo especially convincing. This is character-driven cinema at its very best - and rewarding. One other element that I really, really enjoyed and it is one of the most unusual aspects of any film in my memory, that is, many scenes are filmed in such a way that the setting COULD BE the nineteenth century. It's uncanny. I don't why this was done, but I loved the sheer virtuosity of it. Just another element of this film's wonder! Read more
This is one of the better films I have seen in a really long time. I don't remember it when it came out, and probably never would have seen it had Rian Johnson not been the director and was rather interested in seeing his filmography, and I have to say that although this is easily the least like his other projects, it is also possibly his best work so far. It is a bit more whimsical than I would have expected, but there is a darkness to it as well, though maybe not on the surface, but more importantly it is about the choices that we make in life to hold onto the bad or to start. It is a heist movie like none I have ever seen, and while it does have a few twists and turns, this one very much tells you everything that you need to know and lets the journey of why lighten your day. I couldn't recommend this film more. Read more
I was a little worried, during the opening "flashback to childhood" scene, that watching this would send me into quirk overload as the scene was narrated in rhyming couplets...but I needn't have been concerned. Just about everything in this film was inspired and delightful. Two foster brothers have a knack for the long con. One brother dreams up ever more elaborate cons while the other simply dreams of an "unwritten life." The next (and last, of course) mark is Penelope -- a lonely recluse who collects hobbies and doesn't know that what she really wants is adventure. When the brothers show up and give her a glimpse of the fun she could be having outside of her mansion, she jumps in with both feet. The ending was surprising and satisfying. It's simply one of the best times I've had watching a film in a good long time. We just had to buy it. Read more
Great acting, good plot. I wish they had developed the script and the characters a little more. If they had added another 15 or 20 minutes to the film, I could have rated it a five star. Read more
The Brother's Bloom is the story of two brothers. Stephen, consumed with the idea of creating the perfect on and Bloom, dragged along into his meticulously thought out story lines embedded with symbolism. In one of their last cons before Bloom leaves the business for good, he ends of falling for the target, Penelope. This leads into a whirlwind of action where you're never really sure what's a con and what's real. Is Stephen still in charge of the con or have things taken an unexpected turn? With the help of Bang Bang an oriental pyromaniac they play the part in a con that will change their lives forever. This movie provides the perfect combination of whimsical comedy with a serious tone. Read more
I love these actors, the director, even the story is amazing, but the pace of most of the film, until maybe the last half hour is not working or something. I do recommend it, but it's not as good as it could have been. Also the disk was out of it's place and got a few scratches, but non effecting the playing of the movie. Read more
one of his early ones Read more
Amazing script with witty dialog, wonderfully composed scenes and use of the visual medium. The film is re-watchable again and again. It is funny, enjoyable and a story that you've never seen before. Not a word of clichéd dialog in the entire movie. I LOVE this picture! I have given away five copies of this DVD to friends and without exception everyone's response is "Where was this film hiding last year??" And they're grateful for the discovery. I just don't think you can go wrong with this film. Read more
