Rachel Weisz, Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo

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 eccentri...( read more  read more... )c heiress the time of her life with a romantic adventure that takes them around the world.

Flixster Users

60% liked it

7,018 ratings

Critics

62% liked it

110 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Rian Johnson

Release Date: May 15, 2009

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DVD Release Date: September 29, 2009

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Stats: 2,158 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,158)


  • November 4, 2009
    "I have a million endings! Aren't I clever?"
  • October 28, 2009
    "The Brothers Bloom", the second effort by writer/director Rian Johnson, didn't irritate me quite as much as his 2005 effort, "Brick", but that's not to say that Johnson has reigned back on the self-satisfying quirks. His latest is rightfully (and wrongfully) compared to the less...( read more)er works of Wes Anderson - well acted, pretty to look at, but so sparse in captivating drama that it becomes almost aggravating.

    Bloom (Adrien Brody) and Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) are the brothers of the title - notorious con-men who have been in practice since their early childhood. Stephen is the mastermind of the two, a passionate writer who scribes his cons like screenplays and has Bloom act them out. Bloom, however, is unwilling to keep satisfying Stephen's predetermined destinies, and is looking to get out of the con game. But, of course, this is a caper movie - there's always got to be one last job.

    A perfect target is found in Penelope (Rachel Weisz), a wealthy, beautiful, and yet painfully lonely heiress. In her spare time, she "collects hobbies" - ping pong, installing cameras into watermelons, juggling chainsaws. Bloom intentionally crashes his bike into her car, stimulating a relationship that soon evolves into love. Stephen, on the sidelines, keeps reminding him that he can't fall in love with a target.

    If there's one thing to praise about "The Brothers Bloom", it's the acting. The always reliable Mark Ruffalo, looking slightly less sleepy than usual, is wonderful in the role of a typical rogue - should Johnson decide to keep doing these con movies, Ruffalo isn't a bad substitute for Joe Mantegna. It's Rachel Weisz, however, who steals the show. She's completely irresistible, a dreamer with the mind of a child yet with an almost somber tone beneath it. It's hard to buy her as a romantic lead at first, but she knows just how to tone down the eccentricities of her character in the latter half.

    Twists and turns are to be expected in this kind of film, and you can see most of them coming. The final con is bittersweet and almost touching, but it occurs at a point that i'd long since lost interest in the material. There's only so many times you can "fool" an audience before they don't want to play along anymore.

    I never once felt like I was watching an interaction between brothers, as the interaction between Johnson's pen and the paper was far too prominent. At one point, there's a sly reference made to Herman Melville, and Johnson goes as far as to spell it out for us directly as if expecting applause. He's an interesting director and clearly a well-studied man, but in his first two features he's flaunted his intellect in the least nuanced ways imaginable. "The Brothers Bloom" has a mild charm thanks to the performers, but Johnson, as a writer/director, has yet to move me in any way.
  • October 18, 2009
    i love BANG BANG! She was what really MADE this movie for me!
  • October 15, 2009
    What a great movie, you'll want to watch it again right after it's over. A wickedly sharp and dazzelingly original comic fantasy thats loaded with lots of twist, tricks and great characters. An outragiously funny and flat-out enjoyable movie. It be a crime to miss it. A brilliant...( read more), well-crafted, sharply written and superbly performend film. It's wildly entertaining and dosent fail to satisfy.It's the coolest con of it's kind, brining on the fun and excitement of The Sting. The cast truly makes this film feel perfect, their chemistry lights up the screen. Rachel Weiz is absolutely wonderful, she brings heart and soul to this film. Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo are magnificent, the both of them bring such charm and humor to their performances that makes them at joy to watch. Rinko Kikuchi is terifficly hilarious. This is a movie that is truly a classic.
  • October 12, 2009
    clever and quirky but the last act was weak i thought. however i enjoyed it and i'm a little bit in love with mark ruffalo
  • November 7, 2009
    Some parts are brilliant (especially the car delivery in the beginning just after she smashes the first Lambo) but it doesn't add up in the end.
  • November 5, 2009
    i hate these indie type movies....lets all spell it together...S-U-C-K-E-D!
  • November 3, 2009
    Such a nice show. like drinking brisk Lemonade.
  • November 1, 2009
    Quite witty, quirky, and fun.
  • November 1, 2009
    Rian Johnson's second film shows the work of a truly creative artist. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Critic Reviews


May 22, 2009
Amy Biancolli, San Francisco Chronicle

Even if you don't quite comprehend the ending (there seem to be 12 of them), you'll still feel the wallop of its consequences. full review

May 22, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

The leads have zero comedic skills, but you can tell they're being funny because they all wear sarcastic hats. full review

May 22, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A globetrotting heist film that starts off terrifically and then progressively deflates. full review

May 21, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

A con game about con games, the second film from writer-director Rian Johnson is breezily enjoyable for about 10 minutes, until you realize the entire movie is going to be pitched at the same exuberan... full review

May 21, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This movie is lively at times, it's lovely to look at, and the actors are persuasive in very difficult material. But around and around it goes, and where it stops, nobody by that point much cares. full review

May 15, 2009
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

The "perfect" con job is the premise for this near-perfect con movie with a revelatory performance from Rachel Weisz. full review

May 15, 2009
Kurt Loder, MTV

The movie is wonderfully weird. full review

May 15, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Ruffalo has some of the sharpest lines, and Brody's soulfulness is ideal for the role of a disillusioned introvert. With her enthusiasm, warmth and intelligence, Weisz is an inspired choice to play Pe... full review

May 12, 2009
Nick Schager, The Screengrab

Infinitely pleased with its derivative, fanciful writerly convolutions. full review

View more The Brothers Bloom reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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The Brothers Bloom Trivia


  • I've been a dwarf-tossing, arrow-shooting, blond-headed elf, a weak little trojan who hid behind his big brother's legs trying to end a war that I started, willing gave up the land I'd been fighting for, and a not so swashbuckling pirate's assistant. Who am I?  Answer »

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