The Brothers Bloom

Friends brought the film The Brothers Bloom over tonight and OMG what a wonderfully slasheriffic h/c fest it was!  First of all, it stars Adrien Brody. I mean, that's almost enough right there.  But it stars Adrien Brody as the reluctant half of a con-man duo, brothers who grew up together getting bounced from one foster home to another and eventually winding up in the hands of "The Diamond Dog," a Russian Mafia Fagin-type figure. (Tortured childhood, anyone? Why yes, I don't mind if I do.) The film makes it clear that DD beat the boys, but in a very tense scene where DD gropes Adrien's thigh while A sits there and shakes sends a very strong hint that Adrien's character was sexually abused as well.

Then there's Rachel Weisz as the quirky millionaire mark who Bloom (Adrien) falls in love with.  She's perfect.  I barely even got into slashing the two brothers (though you totally could), because Rachel's character, with her multitude of odd hobbies, history of isolation and hunger to experience the world was such a great geek girl character. And they don't make a big deal out of her being beautiful.  AND, there are all these scenes where she's cupping Adrien's face, or stroking his hair as he lays with his head in her lap.  I'm telling you, this film taps right into the heart of the hurt-comfort motherlode and just keeps it coming.  Yummy angsty fun.  Recommended.

Comments

[Katrina Strauss]

Mmm, love Adrien Brody. I based a secondary character on him once, big crooked nose and all. Ruffalo's not bad, either -- love his voice. I need to check this movie out. Thanks for the rec!

[Steven Harper Piziks]

Into the Netflix queue!