The Brothers Bloom (2008)

This is one of those movies that seemed to come out of nowhere and was such a delightful surprise for me. There was no advertising or hype surrounding this movie, and it ran in only a limited number of theatres, so almost everyone who has seen it, has only done so since it came out in DVD earlier this year.

When I first saw it, I knew nothing about the film, other than it starred two of my favourite current actors, Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo. It was written and directed by Rian Johnson, who had previously written and directed the cult indie favourite Brick (2005). That was more than enough to induce me to watch it.

The Brothers Bloom is the story of two orphaned brothers, who learn the art of the con as children, which we see in a really wonderful flashback in the movie's opening sequence. They become masters of the game as adults and we meet them again 23 years later.

Stephen, played by Mark Ruffalo, is the designer and mastermind of their cons, mapping out each intricate part of the job, and his brother Bloom, played by Adrien Brody is always given a significant role to play in each. They, along with their Japanese sidekick Bang Bang, who may or may not speak English, but certainly does know her explosives, manage to become masters of the game, and swindle millions from wealthy marks all over the world.

Stephen believes that the best cons are the ones where everyone gets what they want in the end, including the swindled victim. Bloom, the younger brother is finding that he is not getting what he wants, which is real love, and an unscripted life. He decides once and for all that he wants out, but Stephen talks him into one last job. Yes, it's the old "one last job" theme.

The mark of the last job is the quirky heiress, Penelope, played beautifully by Rachel Weisz. This is the main plot of the movie, and we follow their adventures from here. This is where the real romp begins.

Just who is getting conned? Will Bloom finally be able to find love and live an unwritten life? Will Stephen finally pull off the perfect con?  I can't tell you that, but it's so much fun discovering those answers.

To watch this film one must suspend one's disbelief in order to become part of the world of the Bloom brothers and quite frankly, I loved being in their world. The costumes are stunning, and there are many 3 piece suits, frock coats, cape jackets and all manner of interesting hats and fedoras. Although the movie takes place in the present day, the clothing and the dialogue give this movie a rather timeless feel and a very unique style. The characters travel in steamers to cross the ocean and travel by rail on beautiful old trains, not unlike the Orient Express. It's an exotic adventure that is occasionally reminiscent of some of the old movie classics.

I was never quite sure what would happen next, but the best thing about the movie was that I came to really like the characters, and their relationships to one another. They all had their good qualities, but they all had their flaws And the character of Bang Bang often wordlessly steals every scene she's in.

Above all, there is great love between the brothers, and that made the outcome of the film all the more important to me. And indeed, I found the outcome highly satisfying.

The Brothers Bloom is a movie that contains a bare minimum of untoward language and sexuality, which is unusual these days. It's funny, eccentric, and at times touching.

In short, there was a lot to like about this movie, and I was completely entertained and enchanted by it. It's smart and it's stylish. I watched it with my 19 year-old son, who enjoyed it as much as I did. I confess to watching it more than once. I'll likely watch it again.

Starring:  Rachel Weisz

               Adrien Brody

               Mark Ruffalo

Director: Rian Johnson

Next Time: Now, Voyager (1942)--a true golden age classic.

Don Juan DeMarco (1994)

Ah, Don Juan DeMarco. This movie, while not a great box office success, is well-loved by most of us who have seen it.  Is the premise a bit silly? To be sure. Is this movie realistic? Not at all. Is it extraordinarily directed? Not particularly. Yet Don Juan DeMarco is a unique parable that is thoroughly entertaining, funny, charming and heart-warming. It will change you in some way if you allow it to. With a cast that consists of Marlon Brando, Johnny Depp and Faye Dunaway, this movie is far more than simply the sum of its parts. 

Johnny Depp plays a young man who proclaims to be Don Juan, the world’s greatest lover. Circumstances find him forced into a mental hospital where he is under the charge of Marlon Brando, who plays his soon-to-be-retired psychiatrist. From there, we, along with Brando, begin to experience Don Juan’s world. Brando’s wife, played beautifully by Faye Dunaway, is peripherally affected by Don Juan as well.

The real magic of this movie is in the cast and how they interact. Johnny Depp is thoroughly engaging from the first scene to the last. His character is a study of contradictions. He is at once innocent and yet worldly, wise and yet naïve, funny and vulnerable. There is a genuine chemistry between him and Marlon Brando that is a joy to see. It is delightful watching Brando’s character becoming fascinated by Don Juan, and seeing how it slowly begins to affect him.

While Brando is physically very heavy, I think it works perfectly for this film. If we look at him through his wife’s eyes, as we should, we see the handsome young lover that she married.

Faye Dunaway glows in one of her most relaxed and accessible roles ever. She exudes a warmth in this film that is seldom seen in any of her movies. There is a spark between Brando and Dunaway that happens so rarely on the screen.

The beautiful Bryan Adams song that plays over the end credits, with it’s lilting melody and powerful lyrics nicely punctuates the film.

This movie reminds us that romance is not something reserved only for the young; it is something that can be nurtured and kept over time. We can choose to live a life with a bit of fantasy and magic to make up for the nine to five grind. It’s all about choosing who you want to be and how you want to see the world.

Don Juan DeMarco is a film that will please men and women, both young and old. If you’re in a long-term relationship, or hope to be, this movie is for you. Men especially need to see this. Whether you watch this movie alone, or with your sweetie, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. If you've already seen it, I'd love to hear what you think.

Starring: Marlon Brando
              Johnny Depp
              Faye Dunaway

Director: Jeremy Leven

Saturday's Movie: The Brothers Bloom (2009)

The Rose Tattoo (1955)

While this may not be my favourite movie ever, for some reason when thinking about which movie I wanted to discuss first, this film came to mind.

This was a film that somehow escaped my notice until about 15 years ago, when I finally saw it for the first time. I've watched it several times since, and I now own a  copy of it.


This 1955 motion picture adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ 1951 broadway play is an important film for one reason—Italian actress, Anna Magnani. I can only imagine what a revelation she must have been to American audiences when this movie, her first English speaking film role, was released.

While not Hollywood-beautiful by any means, she has a genuine passion and fire that smoulders in every scene she’s in. By the end of the picture, I did see the true depth of her beauty.

Ms. Magnani won a well-deserved Oscar for this role, which incidentally Tennessee Williams wrote just for her. She chose not to play the role on Broadway, as she felt her English was not good enough at the time. Luckily she agreed to take the film role.

She plays Serafina Delle Rose, a widowed Sicilian immigrant living in Louisiana. She idolized her husband so much that after his death she becomes a virtual shut-in, rarely getting out of her dressing gown, but she does manage to keep up a little business doing dressmaking. She has a teenaged daughter, but she represses her daughter by expecting her to live as sheltered a life as she might have in the old country.

Suddenly things change, as her daughter Rosa tries to exert some independence, and as Serafina learns things about her late husband that she refuses to believe. At the same time she meets Alvaro, a nice, but somewhat simple truck driver, who still lives in his childhood home. Her life is about to change radically.

Sadly, the biggest flaw in this film is the casting of Burt Lancaster as Alvaro. He plays his character as such a puerile buffoon that it is difficult to imagine Serafina having anything more than sexual attraction for him. His performance is way over the top, and I have to admit that there were times that I felt embarrassed for him.

The rest of the cast is excellent, however, particularly Marisa Pavan as young Rose, and Virginia Grey as Estelle. We can look past Burt.

The story is well written, but Anna Magnani elevates this film to much more than just what’s in the script. As a viewer, all I wanted was for her tortured loneliness to be put to an end and to see a smile on her face. Seeing her finally laugh moved me far more than words could say.

I recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys seeing an excellent acting performance, or for anyone who loves the classics, but has yet to see this movie.


Starring: Anna Magnani, Burt Lancaster
Director: Daniel Mann

'Til next time, movie lovers!