When I first heard of this movie, it intrigued me: Two brothers who grew up to become one of the greatest con men teams. Their first con was originated when Stephen was 13 and his younger brother, Bloom, was 10. The movie opening sets the lighthearted tone for the rest of the film. It grabs your attention and endears itself as the brothers get their start in the art of swindling gullible members of society.
The whole movie is a con job, making you wonder what is truly real. Stephen is played by Mark Ruffalo as a genius planner, always in love with the story element of the con. "The perfect con is where everyone gets what they really wanted at the beginning." Bloom is portrayed by Adrian Brody; he's the role player whose job is to act as a blind to the women involved in the cons. However, he has become so good at acting out his parts that he has no feeling of his own identity. An Asian in her 20's with no apparent past,"Bang Bang", is their third accomplice, speaking with her actions rather than her command of the English language. She is the Bloom Brothers' explosives and firearms expert. Rachel Weisz plays Penelope, an eccentric young heiress who collects hobbies. She is a recluse who has spent most of her life at her estate learning how to do card tricks, play many instruments, and juggle chainsaws while on a unicycle.
Bloom is called back by Stephen to perform one last con. Bloom wants to live an unscripted life, but has been so long under his older brother's wings that he is purposeless without Stephen. The plan is to get Penelope's money through a wild journey spanning the globe. We, the audience, know that a con is going on but are unsure when the characters are being truly vulnerable, or merely playing their parts to perfection.
The film is full of laughs as the Brothers guide their victim from New Jersey to St. Petersburg to Mexico. Bloom starts to fall for Penelope outside of his written role, leading the audience to wonder if he will expose the con or fulfill his loyalty to his roots.
Overall, it was a great movie for a Sunday night. Mark Ruffalo takes center stage as the clever rogue who is charming in his persuasion and smile. Adrian Brody is a sympathetic character, one who is both pathetic and attractive at the same time. He must raise some maternal chord in women, because his looks do not favor him. Adrian has a long nose, thin of face and frame, but he manages to connect on some intangible level with the observer. Rachel Weisz is "cute" as my sister put it; she lights up the screen with her grin and youthful enthusiasm with intrigue and adventure. The movie ends in a manner true to its nature, leaving the viewer questioning where stories and cons end and unadorned reality begins.
What is true and what is deception? That is the burden placed upon the beholder; it will leave that person with a healthy dose of skepticism with which to wrestle even as the credits roll.
The whole movie is a con job, making you wonder what is truly real. Stephen is played by Mark Ruffalo as a genius planner, always in love with the story element of the con. "The perfect con is where everyone gets what they really wanted at the beginning." Bloom is portrayed by Adrian Brody; he's the role player whose job is to act as a blind to the women involved in the cons. However, he has become so good at acting out his parts that he has no feeling of his own identity. An Asian in her 20's with no apparent past,"Bang Bang", is their third accomplice, speaking with her actions rather than her command of the English language. She is the Bloom Brothers' explosives and firearms expert. Rachel Weisz plays Penelope, an eccentric young heiress who collects hobbies. She is a recluse who has spent most of her life at her estate learning how to do card tricks, play many instruments, and juggle chainsaws while on a unicycle.
Bloom is called back by Stephen to perform one last con. Bloom wants to live an unscripted life, but has been so long under his older brother's wings that he is purposeless without Stephen. The plan is to get Penelope's money through a wild journey spanning the globe. We, the audience, know that a con is going on but are unsure when the characters are being truly vulnerable, or merely playing their parts to perfection.
The film is full of laughs as the Brothers guide their victim from New Jersey to St. Petersburg to Mexico. Bloom starts to fall for Penelope outside of his written role, leading the audience to wonder if he will expose the con or fulfill his loyalty to his roots.
Overall, it was a great movie for a Sunday night. Mark Ruffalo takes center stage as the clever rogue who is charming in his persuasion and smile. Adrian Brody is a sympathetic character, one who is both pathetic and attractive at the same time. He must raise some maternal chord in women, because his looks do not favor him. Adrian has a long nose, thin of face and frame, but he manages to connect on some intangible level with the observer. Rachel Weisz is "cute" as my sister put it; she lights up the screen with her grin and youthful enthusiasm with intrigue and adventure. The movie ends in a manner true to its nature, leaving the viewer questioning where stories and cons end and unadorned reality begins.
What is true and what is deception? That is the burden placed upon the beholder; it will leave that person with a healthy dose of skepticism with which to wrestle even as the credits roll.
Very intersting...I think I'll have to watch this one! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIntriguing. I like the way that you summed this up. Now I want to watch it again (:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, it ensures that I am not just shooting in the dark. Comments are proof that someone has read. Influenced them for good or ill.
ReplyDeleteEsp. thanks to you, Zach! You took me up on my offer!