The Brothers Bloom

The Brothers Bloom are, apparently, the world's greatest conmen. The younger
one, Bloom (Adrien Brody) has retired, and his older brother Stephen (Mark
Ruffalo) persuades him to come back for one last con, conning a million dollars
out of a wealthy heiress called Penelope (Rachel Weisz) by convincing her she's
taking part in an an international antiques smuggling adventure.

Penelope, who's been a recluse all her life, gets caught up in the adventure
and romance, and Bloom finds himself falling in love with her. Also involved
are Stephen's sidekick, a mute Japanese girl (Rinko Kikuchi) who's an
explosives expert (actually not so much mute as apparently not that interested
in talking to anyone) and a mysterious Belgian (Robbie Coltrane). Against them
is set Diamond Dog (Maximilian Schell), the boys' old mentor, and arch enemy.

The whole thing degenerates into a series of cons and counter cons, with
nothing ever very clear whether it's real or another con. Ultimately, the whole
thing might be looked on as Stephen trying to grant Bloom his independance and
give him a better life, the only way he knows how, through a very elaborate
con.

The film's a bit surreal, and a lot nuts. It's pretty funny, and reminds me of
the kind of whimsical 50s comedies involving Cary Grant, in which people spend
a lot of time running in and out of railway carriage compartments. I don't
think that it's nearly as clever as it thinks it is, mind, but it's a highly
amusing and charming film that's a real breath of fresh air.