Check This Out: The Brothers Bloom

So we have to blog about something huh? Anything in the world. Well, after another piece of micro fiction turned out to be not so micro, I decided to fall back on something I know I can do: tell people about movies they probably haven't heard of, and why they should have. So I'm here to tell you about one of my favorite films from last year: "The Brothers Bloom".

What would life be like if you always knew what was coming next? If you are playing a part, how is that different from living that part? These are the two questions at the center of Rian Johnson's 2009 film "The Brothers Bloom". The story follows two brothers: Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrian Brody) who are con men by trade. Stephen writes the cons and Bloom plays the part that Stephen writes for him. Early in their lives Stephen does this to help Bloom, to help him gain confidence by letting him play a part where the outcome is assured. But when we join the brothers in their adult lives, Bloom is sick of being a fake. He wants to live an unwritten life. Stephen agrees, but only after one last con on an eccentric heiress. What follows is a grand scale con that takes them from New Jersey to Mexico by way of Prague, Belgrade, and Montenegro.

Now that plot description is probably not blowing your mind, but it's the execution that makes this movie great. From the great opening, narrated by Ricky J in rhyming verse, to the jazzy score by Nathan Johnson the film exudes style. Most con movies rely on big twists in the end. Who's really in control is always the question. And while "The Brothers Bloom" has its twists at the end, this film is really about its characters, which are thankfully great.

Brody plays Bloom as somber, but not pathetic. Ruffalo's Stephen is the opposite of his brother. He's cool and cocky, just as someone who lives his life in stories of his own creation should be. Rounding out the crew is the mark for the con: Penelope (Rachel Wiesz) a self proclaimed collector of hobbies. Along with Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi), the brother's mysterious Japanese explosive expert who speaks no more than 3 lines in the entire film, and still manages to steal every scene she is in.

The end result here is a great, funny, and thoroughly cool con film. It excels as a piece of it's genre while asking some questions about it at the same time. I can't recommend Johnson's film enough, and if you need a little more convincing check out the first 5 mins here to see just how slick it is.