On the surface, yes, The Brothers Bloom will remind you of The Royal Tenenbaums and perhaps even Rushmore but that is only because it is an intensely stylized film meant to be as appealing visually as it is story wise. Which I believe is the main objective for a filmmaker from the outset. Rian Johnson does some neat things with the camera in the process of getting pretty good performances from his leads, Rachel Weisz in particular. While the story and script aren't as well crafted as his debut feature, Brick, they are just good enough to keep your interest piqued as you embrace the fantastic scenery and whimsy of it all.

The second film from writer/director Rian Johnson (BRICK) is a fun little story about two brothers, Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrien Brody), who grow up to become con-men after a childhood of misery and ill-fortune. The mark that they try to take in this particular story is Penelope, played wonderfully by Rachel Weisz (The Fountain and The Constant Gardener), who just happens to be a millionaire heiress who has spent her life in seclusion "collecting hobbies". She masterfully shows off her skills at playing the piano, violin, accordion, banjo, skateboarding and juggling...chainsaws. Johnson provides us with a stylized storytelling structure that always keeps us guessing and completely enthralled in what's happening onscreen. All of the performers - particularly Bang Bang, played by RInko Kikuchi, who only says three words in the entire movie, but steals the show completely - are so engaging that you never know who the bad guy is, but in the end you're cheering for them all.

Hillarious most of the time, Brothers Bloom delivers a fast paced con men story. Sadly, the third act is just weak. No one seems to know how to end movies these days. Oh well. I still had a great time for the first 90 mins. Not so much after it though. Also, where did the narrator go?

A beautiful and whimsical tale for anyone and everyone looking for a summer treat. On the surface it's an easy going film about life and love, taking us to exotic places around the world to meet equally colorful characters. The dialogue is well written, and the overall narrative flows quite nicely throughout. What surprised me was how funny the film was, and by the end of it, how poignant it had become. What a lot of people seem to be missing is that the film also has a lot of substance underneath all of the enjoyable fluff. It seems to be going over a lot of people's heads that this is a movie ABOUT film narrative and story telling. It's a light theme in the film's surface, but it's also an expertly crafted mechanic that is both reflexive and at work on the audience. I saw this at the Cleveland Film Festival, and I can't wait to see it again once it opens nationwide. It's great for friends, families, or even film buffs looking for some meat in the normally thin summer time.

One of the funniest and most beautifully crafted movies I have seen in a long while. This is an solid "A" movie. The Brothers Bloom [BLOCKED WEBSITE] Sort of a mix of The Sting, along with a comedy, and a little romance. Both the script and the visuals have several levels and jokes throughout the film. Absolutely terrific and fun!