The Brothers Bloom

If you were among those knocked out by Rian Johnson’s smart filmmaking debut, Brick—in which pulpy noir dialogue bulleted without irony from the mouths of teenagers—then you might be a little surprised at the whimsical construct of Johnson’s sophomore effort, an overly quirky romantic caper. Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo star as conmen, and their latest mark is a lonely, peculiar heiress (Rachel Weisz) who throws herself with gusto into the possibility of adventure. A luscious dream cast enjoys believable chemistry as they double-cross each other across the globe. However, The Brothers Bloom encroaches on territory that no longer seems terribly fresh, with its preciously arranged dioramas, blatant symbolism, not-so-subconscious daddy issues and plot contrivances that lack a warm, engaging truth. In short, if you’ve been jonesing for a new Wes Anderson movie, look no further.