The Brothers Bloom

August 6, 2011 - The fix is in is this neat little film that always keeps you wondering who's conning who. Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel Weisz star. Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), Robbie Coltrane and Maximillian Schell also appear.

Ruffalo and Brody play brothers Stephen and Bloom, a pair of con men known as the Bloom Brothers. Kikuchi is their sidekick, Bang Bang. Ever since they were young, the Bloom brothers have conned their way around the world with older brother Stephen writing scenarios that put the younger Bloom in the center. But, now, Bloom worries that he has become lost in the characters he plays. He leaves Stephen to search for something real.

Later, Stephen tracks down Bloom and convinces him to take part in one final con. Their target is Penelope (Weisz), a quirky heiress who lives all alone in a mansion in New Jersey. Bloom's job is to convince Penelope that he loves her so that she will willingly part with $1 million. But, Bloom finds that this is one role that cuts a little too close to reality.

Overall review: *** The film itself is like a con. It draws you in with interesting characters then keeps you interested by keeping you guessing. On the surface, Penelope is the one getting conned. But, you wonder if maybe, somehow, she's in on it and Bloom is the real mark. In any case, it's a fanciful little movie, and theres a Yuengling joke in there, too.