SummaryFor as long as they can remember, the Brothers Bloom have had only each other to depend on. From their childhood in a long series of gloomy foster homes to their highflying lives as international con artists, Stephen and Bloom have shared everything. Stephen brilliantly concocts intricate stories that the brothers live out, but he's still searchi... Read More
Directed By:Rian Johnson
Written By:Rian Johnson
The Brothers Bloom
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
User score
Generally Favorable
6.2
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
55
50% Positive
13 Reviews
13 Reviews
46% Mixed
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
4% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
88
The Brothers Bloom has it all: charming romance, jaunty adventure story, witty dialogue, gorgeous cinematography and superb performances.
75
The jaunty, energetic first 10 minutes of The Brothers Bloom are easily the best first 10 minutes of any film I've seen this year. And while the succeeding hour and 43 minutes doesn't hold up to the movie's opening scenes, the whole endeavor is still an awfully good time.
User score
Generally Favorable
6.2
55% Positive
34 Ratings
34 Ratings
26% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
19% Negative
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
Jan 22, 2026
10
The rhythmic machinery of a masterfully crafted lie: A 5.0-star sensational surge of raw, high-tension storytelling.2012(5.0)I watched The Brothers Bloom (2008) in 2012, and it remains a visceral 5.0-star pillar of sophisticated rebellion in my archive—a raw revelation of how a sensational con-man narrative can dismantle the stagnant boundaries between fiction and life. This experience **** the fourth wall of the heist genre by infusing Rian Johnson’s raw, eccentric precision into a narrative rhythm that felt 100% chewy and sensational. The narrative rhythm was far from stagnant; instead, it offered a rhythmic journey through the pathetic longing for a "written life" and the raw, "bbo-jjak" charm of Rachel Weisz’s hobbies, leaving me in a state of absolute hororong at the chewy wit of Stephen and Bloom’s final performance. Seeing the vivid, global landscapes and the raw, high-tension connection between the brothers provided an emotional payoff that felt both authentic and sensational, proving that a story about "the perfect con" could be a vivid act of storytelling rebellion against a stagnant reality. The 95% preservation of my memory is dominated by the rhythmic, raw beauty of the card tricks and the vivid but pathetic weight of the ultimate sacrifice, creating a permanent, sensational scar of melancholic joy on my soul. Unlike the stagnant 2.0-star drift of Batman Forever, this encounter possessed a rebellious soul that turned a pathetic deception into a sensational masterpiece of truth. It stands in my 2012 record as a powerful 5.0-star testament to the raw power of the narrative—a high-tension encounter with the vivid rhythm of the heart that remains one of the most chewy artifacts of my cinematic journey.
Aug 5, 2011
10
AMAZING i love this movie i dont know why this movie got any reviews below a 9, great story great actors and it has an amazing plot. my favorite movie by far. a must see
67
Never achieves the satisfaction of a real crackerjack con movie.
50
The Brothers Bloom is much more interested in showing off its own smarts, such as they are, than in challenging the audience's.
50
Breezily enjoyable for about 10 minutes, until you realize the entire movie is going to be pitched at the same exuberantly manic pace. It's like being trapped in an elevator with a performing poodle that doesn't know when to quit.
50
As much as you admire the stagecraft and the technical skills on display, when all is said and done, that's all it is: a fancy, not-quite-two-hour stunt.
20
An overstuffed failure that mistakes sleight storytelling for dazzling entertainment.
Feb 6, 2011
10
The average critic review of 55 is an absolute joke for what is a fantastic film, with a delicate plot line which is serious but huge amounts of fun, the film is directed beautifully and has fabulous performances from a very talented cast. Definitely worth watching, several times.
Jan 30, 2013
9
It has action, cheerful comedy, touching romance, tricky capers which are never what they appear to be, and a style of its own that makes the film a fantastic original that certainly deserves more acclaim than it has received.
Jun 22, 2012
9
Loved the story line, the directing, writing, photography and the editing. Gave it a 9 score because it genuinely held my interest. Adrian Brody and Rachel Weisz had real charisma and Mark Ruffalo was a fantastic foil. Great Locations too. What's not to like?
Mar 8, 2022
6
Rian Johnson's lesser work still has many things to like about it. Fun characters, really good performances all around, and an opening prologue that's written about as well as anything the writer/director has ever done. If only the story lived up to Johnson's usual standards.
Apr 3, 2013
4
So your watching a movie and it is very character and dialogue driven. Then you suddenly realize that your favorite character in the film hasn't said a word. I would say chances are your not enjoying the film all that much. I sought out The Brothers Bloom after loving Johnson's Looper last year, and liking Brick quite well after that. Hopefully The Brothers Bloom will be a little remembered blip on the directors resume as his career continues. It is the story of two orphaned brothers who at an early age develop a knack for the con. In my opinion a good con movie is hard to pull off. First of all you have to make the audience connect with characters who are doing deplorable things because that is who your story has to center around. I think Johnson does this well enough. Secondly the con needs to be written so the audience understands it, but it fools them. It also must be believable enough that the target would be fooled as well. This is my biggest issue with The Brothers Bloom. The major con is so dull in fact that I had little interest in any twist that would come. Johnson also falls into the annoying habit of twisting the twist. When a director does this too often I don't feel pleasantly fooled anymore, I feel annoyed with the direction the story has taken. The Brothers Bloom does again show off Johnson's ability to build an entertaining world. The characters are entertaining, each with a distinct style. I enjoy Johnson's use of score and music where necessary. Johnson is a stylish filmmaker and that is on full display here. Overall this film just falls short in its story arc, and at the end of the day that is the most important part of a con film.
Production Company:
- Endgame Entertainment
- Ram Bergman Productions
- The Weinstein Company
Release Date:May 15, 2009
Duration:1 h 54 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:They'd never let the truth come between them
Awards
Stockholm Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Chlotrudis Awards
• 1 Nomination
Satellite Awards
• 1 Nomination
