The Brothers Bloom (Rian Johnson, 2008): USA

Reviewed by Thao Huynh. Viewed at the AFI Film Festival, ArcLight Hollywood.

The Brothers Bloom is definitely one of the most expecting movies in AFI Fest. This movie has soon become my new favorite movie. I love the brothers bloom not only because of the story, the plots but also the costume designs are unforgettable.

I had chance to watch this movie in AFI Los Angeles international film festival. After the movie was shown, there was a Q&A with Rian Johnson who is the director of this movie. He shared every experience that the whole team group has faced during making this movie. I just learned it is very interesting that the big idea always made from little tiny things combined. It takes many steps to complete a movie and it takes many steps and good brain to make a movie like this. This movie is also Rian’s second work after this well-known thriller “Brick.” Along starring in this movie are the Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz (The constant gardener), Academy Award winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Mark Ruffalo (Zodiac) and Academy Award nominee Rinko Kikuchi (Babel).

From the beginning, this movie hooked me easily how he two youngsters could not stay long in any houses and how they protected each other. However, even they were very young; they showed the talent that easily fooling people. For truth, they soon became the best con men at that time. They fooled millionaires with complex scenarios which were intelligently created by Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) with the help from his brother Bloom (Adrien Brody) and a sexy, incredibly quiet and also an explosive expert Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi); so they earned money from those millionaries. Stephen was the type of person who lives with plans and always dreamt of the big con with the most complex and brilliant scenario for life, while Bloom always wanted an unwritten life which is spontaneous and adventurous. So they decided to make the last con. Their target this time is a beautiful, lonely, smart and boring heiress Penelope (Rachel Weisz). They all ended up on the ship traveling around the world from New Jersey, Greece, Russia, Mexico and Prague. Unfortunately, Bloom fell in love with Penelope. Their love romance might ruin the plan. Rian Johnson did such a great job from directing and writing scenes.

Bang Bang is absolutely the most interesting character in this movie. An Asian girl who barely says anything in the movie. She has no background and loves to explode things. In Q&A section, Rian Johnson once has told that the actress Rinko Kikuchi and Bang Bang have something in common that they are “ridiculously cool.” From the first time he has eyes on her, he already knew that Rinko is obviously a perfect candidate for this role. Moreover, when Rinko read the script and asked what her dialogue is, Rian had to explain to her that Bang Bang doesn’t use her word to express what she wants. She uses her body gestures instead.

I am sure it happens the same to all the audiences who have seen this movie that everyone can notice the wonderful character’s costumes from the suits that were worn by two brothers, the trend coat on Penolope to the Bang Bang’s wicked style. Black is the main color for these wardrobes. Along with the classic style in black is fedora. There is at least one fedora in every scene. Especially, Bang Bang can’t definitely out of style at any time. Suiting with her strange personality, Bang Bang’s style is a red lips, lady bug sunglasses, red leather gloves, and big fur coat. These amazing costumes were the hard work by Beatrix Aruna Pasztor.

Beatrix Aruna Pasztor is one of the top costume designers with many successes in Vanity Fair, Aeon Flux, the secret of moonacre, the hunting party and basic instinct 2. All the costumes she made from most of the movies have something in common that they all stand out in relief from the basic settings. If you are big fan of fashion, the brothers bloom is definitely a huge source of inspiration. And you can even hardly say no to the good movie story with a fabulous wardrobe. Right?