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The Brother Blooms
2009
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delightful
disappointing
whimsical
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56 %
66 %
Fresh
$ 5 Million
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The Brother Blooms
Positive Reviews
104
Negative reviews
36
Average Rating
3.1
/5
playfully
romantic
delightful
disappointing
whimsical
All
Positive
Negative
1.5
The whimsical ugly duckling fable becomes more uneven as it proceeds, straining too hard to manufacture its quirky charms.
Variety
3.0
Johnson has made an imperfect film, but I perfectly adore his sensibility.
Austin Chronicle
2.5
Which isnt to say that we dont form a relationship with these creatures.
4.5
Anyone willing to tolerate the tortured premise of the story will be paid off handsomely by several winning performances and a moral that makes most o ..
4.0
A globe trotting con game adventure that has a degree of charm but also displays the exasperating indulgence of an ambitious auteur project that may h ..
Screen Daily
4.0
Its full of charm, grace, and that irresistible gleam of wacky fun.
Collider
2.0
It isnt a particularly good one, either, but for viewers who are susceptible to modern day fairy tales that are heavy on whimsy, sweeping soundtracks, ..
3.1
But he needs to tend to his nuts and bolts and meat and potatoes.The film is just too smug and pleased with itself; as a general rule, an exercise in ..
Rogerebert
4.0
Just downright lovely, a gorgeous fairy tale for children and grown ups alike.
E Film Critic
1.0
How can a movie with this premise and this cast be so mercilessly dull and stupid
E Film Critic
3.0
I suppose Penelope would be pleasurable if the title character looked more like a pig and less like a burn victim.
E Film Critic
3.0
The effect is something like Dirty Rotten Scoundrels done by Wes Anderson in a morose mood, much as its creator would presumably resist the latter com ..
Telegraph
2.5
When the handsome Australian isnt trying to be a matinee star, hes a pretty good indie film actor.
San Francisco Chronicle
4.0
The convictions of the cast and an extremely snappy script fill in most of the gaps caused by the wobbly plotlines.
3.5
Happily, the characters are well worth following, and the dynamite performances from all four leads give the movie what the script lacks.
Cinema Blend
1.0
Flash forward 25 years, and the grown up Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and Bloom (Adrien Brody) we never learn why the younger brothers name is used that way ..
Ny Daily News
3.1
This could have been a perfect choice for the Enchanted set, if only its charms were more than skin deep.
Ny Daily News
2.5
There are lots of readily identified classic comedy elements here.
The Globe And Mail
3.8
Aimed at tweenage girls and mushy romantics of all age and stripe, Penelope has a quick gait and a nice comic tone.
Philly
3.0
May not exactly be the belle of the ball, but this ugly duckling updating is certainly fetching enough to serve as enticing family entertainment.
One Guys Opinion
3.0
But Johnson has infused The Brothers Bloom with so much heart and beauty that one can and should easily overlook its discomfiting moments.The truth is ..
Village Voice
3.2
Nevertheless theres some clever puns for fans of the con man genre and a silly routine over a whiskey drinking camel.
Sover
3.1
It will appeal most strongly to pre teen and early teenage girls although theres enough enchantment for other demographics to discover a diversion.
ReelViews
3.8
While not a classic on the level of Tim Burtons Edward Scissorhands, this fabulist fable about a privileged young woman born under a bizarre family cu ..
Tv Guide
3.8
But in asking too many times, the movie forgets its pace and sense of humor.
Combust Ible Celluloid
2.0
Still, theres enough heart and imagination on display to end happily ever after for its target audience.
4.4
The Brothers Bloom has it all: charming romance, jaunty adventure story, witty dialogue, gorgeous cinematography and superb performances.
Usa Today
3.1
While uneven, this Ugly Duckling redux is hipper and funnier than a Disney movie, and the positive message to young girls cant be discounted.
Usa Today
4.4
And although theres no real arc propelling the movie forward, theres just something strangely compelling about the initially antagonistic relationship ..
Reel Film Reviews
3.8
A great first film means impossible expectations for your second film.
Eric Ds Nider
2.0
Its a cute story, with just enough bite to make it more than just a kids only flick.
Eric Ds Nider
3.0
Its hard to tell if theyre doing the movie a favor or its doing one for them.It is easy, though, to accuse Johnson of ripping off Wes Anderson.
News Review
3.0
Some of that has bloody results, but much is faked, at least until the end.
Screen It
3.0
Along the way, the film captures the joy of the confidence game and a freewheeling sense of adventure.
Shadows On The Wall
3.0
Theres also a ridiculous inversion of the usual sentimental happy family climax.
Shadows On The Wall
2.0
The Nature of Imitation is the sound of Dorian Concept systematically deconstructing various genres, stripping them back to the bones underneath and t ..
Pop Matters
4.0
That said, the ending doesnt quite work, because youre expecting something bigger.The Brothers Bloom is a well written, brilliantly directed con flick ..
View London
2.0
Watchable but patchy fantasy romance that doesnt quite work, despite strong performances from Ricci and McAvoy.
View London
4.4
Over 24,000 employees at 116 LI companies were polled on what makes their employers great.
News Day
3.0
This half baked fairy tale always seems to be on the verge of becoming charming but despite a good cast it never quite succeeds.
Cs Monitor
1.9
But under Mark Palanskys uninspired direction, magic eludes Penelope in scene after scene.
New York Post
4.5
A delightful little tale that nonetheless suffers from a distinct sense of dj vu.
Film Journal International ..
3.1
Maybe Ive got some subconscious porcine fetish thing going (or something) but I think Christina Ricci looks kind of cute with a pigs snout where her n ..
Internet Reviews
3.1
If youve watched Pushing Daises, you can predict whether youll find Penelopes over the top charms deliciously sweet or annoyingly cloying.
Internet Reviews
3.5
There is an underlying sweetness to Penelope, a root for her vibe thats only slightly diluted by the predictable story.
Az Central
2.5
Sight gags, bon mots, inside jokes, studied wackiness if ever a movie needed Ritalin, its this one.
Boston
1.9
The director, Mark Palansky, doesnt push the movie far enough over the top.
Boston
3.0
But the mechanics of financing screen adaptations are rarely predictable.
Smh
5.0
One of those movies that I wanted to see again the moment it was over and had this been anything other than a press screening where that was not possi ..
Mountain X
3.5
Plus, its just plain likable, and thats a nice quality in itself.
Mountain X
4.5
What isnt forgivable though its probably no ones fault, just an example of the fickle muses of cinema passing this one by when they were sprinkling th ..
2.5
The semi satirical treatment of celebrity culture, as Penelope is treated first as a tabloid sensation then a media darling, is lame and dated.
Toronto Star
3.2
But, overall, ites too episodic and feels like an aggregation of eccentric characters in search of a more solid and coherent plot.
Emanuellevy
2.0
In Palanskys disappointing effort to blend old and new fairy tales, the theme (I like myself the way I am) is a reworking of Shrek, while the visuals ..
Emanuellevy
3.0
A gripping, beat the clock thriller set in a resplendent Rome, it has enough ecclesiastical intrigue and ecumenical piety to engage the fallen and the ..
Reel Talk Reviews
3.8
A lot of the beats are a bit too familiar from previous entries in the series, which isnt surprising given that this is the fifth film to play off the ..
Q Network
3.5
Writer director Rian Johnson works almost as hard to fake out the audience.
Ew
2.0
If you like your romantic comedies cleverly cast and wildly improbable, youll have two to choose from this weekend.
Slate
4.0
Perhaps you can be too cool for school and too clever for a multiplex, but if youre willing to go along with this, youll enjoy being fooled so much th ..
Empire
1.5
Review by Louise Keller: Visually stylish, what might have been a cute fantasy becomes tedious due to its banal script and a relentless overload of pi ..
3.5
Susan Grangers review of Mamma Mia!.Here We Go Again (Universal Pictures) While I thoroughly enjoyed Mamma Mia! (2008), the jukebox romp revolved arou ..
Susang Ranger
4.0
But thanks to writer director Rian Johnson, its dense and satisfying, eager to mine emotional truths from characters who are master fibbers.
Common Sense Media
3.8
Blink And Youll Miss: Joseph Gordon Levitt, who appears in a moving camera shot so briefly youll wonder if it was really him or not.But it is.
Movies
3.0
Ricci with a cute little turned up schnozz isnt going to have that much actual trouble.
Movies
2.5
Okay, so shes got a snout, but its far from Rocky Dennis or John Merrick levels of grotesque.
Flim Threet
2.5
Combining the comic caper film with a calculatedly offbeat, Wes Anderson inflected brand of drollery, the movie gets both modes wrong, missing the hea ..
Slant Magazine
2.0
A globetrotting, cocktail of screwball comedy and Swinging Sixties style caper it has charm but may have been more fun to make than it is to watch.
Express
3.8
School Director delivers a performance that is beyond embarrassing; some skilled dance performers and genuinely charismatic presences, such as Black T ..
Mr Brown Movies
1.9
With some fine tuning, Penelope might have been transformed into a winning little fable about accepting and loving oneself. As is, it only serves to r ..
The Movie Boy
3.0
Its a pretty backwards approach to moviemaking, if thats the case, and if it isnt the case, well, the move doesnt really work either way.
Bullz-Eye
2.2
If you are looking for a frenetically paced dramedy that is big on looks and light on substance, then The Brothers Bloom may be your cup of tea.
Reeling Reviews
4.5
Its a movie con put on and a sweetly self aware romance and an enormous jape of a popular entertainment all at the same time.
Flickfilosopher
3.8
This is evidence that not all filmmakers fall victim to the so called sophomore slump..Its a charming and delightful motion picture with everything on ..
ReelViews
4.0
If youre looking for something different during blockbuster May this is more than worth a trip to the cinema.
Hollywood
2.0
There are some flat moments, to be sure, and Palanskys direction can be a bit unsteady and awkward, but he doesnt wallow in the eccentricities or the ..
Seattle Pi
1.5
Palansky takes a sweet short fable, makes 90 minutes seem like 900, and then gets the moral wrong.
Tony Medley
2.2
Newbie director Rian Johnson (Brick 2005) fumbles his self penned sophomore effort with an incongruously toned con story that is a chore to sit throug ..
Coles Mithey
3.8
This is a story where the solutions to lifes problems are found within, not from what those around you think, see or feel, and watching Riccis eyes li ..
Movie Freak
3.0
Penelope seems like a fairly misguided and flimsy premise, so the fact that it works at all is an achievement in itself, and however one can fault the ..
3.0
Yet its hard to deny that the film is often very entertaining and consistently engaging, as Ritchies penchant for incredibly brisk pacing and gleefull ..
Reel Film
4.4
Its not blockbuster material, but this clever picture is a romantic and genuinely amusing charmer.
The Star
3.8
Its a mad tonal balancing act a Road picture full of high adventure and dark emotional underpinnings and Johnson doesnt just make it work: His confide ..
Oregon Live
3.0
In the wake of Juno comes another movie with a plucky teen protagonist whos got a mind of her own and refuses to live in shame because of her peculiar ..
Oregon Live
2.5
The most successful films in this genre rely heavily on production design, but unfortunately director Palansky decides to play it fairly straight here ..
Boxoffice Magazine
3.8
While it doesnt come from Anderson instead it comes from screenwriter/director Rian Johnson its as visually rich as one of his movies.
Deseret News
3.0
For all its good intentions and positive messages, this pig pic doesnt fly because, ironically, it never roots deeply enough.
E Online
3.0
Rian Johnsons story about two con men embarking on their final scam has plenty of promise and entertainment value, but wilts when it matters most we d ..
Urban Cine File
3.0
(M) (113 minutes) Selected cinemas RIAN Johnsons high school noir Brick was a marvel of low budget ingenuity and one of the best films of 2006.
The Age
4.0
Like his brooding anti hero, Johnson keeps one step ahead and, at the same time, wears his heart on his sleeve. Its tough not to fall for such charm.
Digital Spy
2.5
Imagine Dirty Rotten Scoundrels filtered through the increas ingly hermetically sealed sensibility of Wes Anderson, and youve got Rian Johnsons disapp ..
New York Post
2.0
The Brothers Bloom embraces a kind of stylised whimsy that makes the playful genre hopping in Brick look like social realism.Not that the deliberately ..
Abc
3.8
The theme of self acceptance isnt a new one, but Penelope manages to rehash it with flavor and with real heart.
Christianity Today
4.5
Like being ordered to have long hair and smile on stage, but wondering how to smile with a trombone in your mouth.Or repeatedly told youre not good en ..
News Blaze
0.5
With only a DNA witchs curse pigs snout compromising Riccis otherwise exceedingly alluring physical assets, it doesnt make a lick of sense that prospe ..
News Blaze
3.5
The Brothers Bloom can be diverting but it is also inconsistent. How much you like it depends how much you let the slack moments spoil your enjoyment ..
Hollywood And Fine
2.2
Ultimately digesting it all is where my objections start to rise.
Brian Or Ndorf
5.0
Johnson injects punchy, off kilter fantastical charm into his playfully globetrotting film.
The Filmy Ap
1.0
Produced according to a formula for squeezing the maximum amount of cloying charm out of the minimum investment.
Antagony & Ecstasy
2.5
Ironically, it isnt much more than a superficial treatment of the material.
Big Picture Big Sound
3.8
Ultimately, Big Man Japan manages to be a cheesy B movie thats initially refreshing, funny and a guilty pleasure, but eventually sinks into tedium whi ..
Nyc Movie Guru
3.8
Cleverly told and beautifully filmed by cameraman Stephen Yedlin, The Brothers Bloom offers wit, laughs and thrills at every turn.
Js Online
3.8
A Cinderella story via Shrek and Tim Burton, Penelope is at its best when were gazing into those eyes, or seeing the world through them.
Js Online
4.0
The Bottom Line: There have been a number of good and great con movies over the years, though its such a difficult genre to master, its refreshing whe ..
ComingSoon
4.0
But Johnson keeps things up to date with jaunty editing, occasional bursts of nastiness, and random absurdities from one legged kittens and booze chug ..
Sky
3.5
But it never pays to look too closely at a film that wears its artifice and complexity so showily on it sleeve.
Sbs
3.0
This weeks TLS October 5, 2018 America on the brink; a new poem by Paul Muldoon; the journalism of Javier Marias; making the medieval modern; female l ..
Entertainment Times Online ..
2.0
A modern day fairytale, the film is tarted up like a hyperactive five year olds lurid fantasy of interior decor.
Entertainment Times Online ..
3.8
Even if you dont quite comprehend the ending (there seems to be 12 of them), youll still feel the wallop of its consequences.
Chron
1.0
I can truthfully say that watching this abysmal fantasy comedy is less rewarding than being slapped across the face with a large wet fish.
Film Guardian
4.4
This sincerity is ultimately what lifts the picture above many of its predecessors.
Scene Stealers
4.0
It is Johnsons follow up to the marvelous Brick, and is about as much of a 180 degree turn as you could ask for; theres a touch of hardboiled dialogue ..
Dvd Talk
5.0
The Other Boleyn Girl opens, touchingly, on two little girls playing in the grass under the watchful eyes of their parents.
Wsj
1.5
More tart than sweet, this contemporary fairy tale provides a worthy vehicle for the fearless Christina Ricci.
Chicago Reader
3.0
Thanks to director Mark Palanskys understated direction the fantastical trappings never overwhelm the characters and especially with the performances ..
Jam! Movies
2.0
Its a profession with a social stigma attached, but Daigo needs work badly.
East Bay Express
2.0
The Brothers Bloom jerks us around without end. The cons and twists pile up like debris. If The Brothers Bloom had one more twist I would have screame ..
Tony Mack
3.0
This out of nowhere wonder charms from the first frame to the last, and joins Charlie Bartlett on the list of early 2008 films that are both wholesome ..
Film Blather
2.0
Its only missing a scene where the heroine cries angry tears and demands to know if thats all she is to the hero, a stupid bet.
Filmcritic.com
3.1
This sophomore effort is a good indication of a bright future ahead for him in moviemaking.
Entertainment Spectrum
0.8
And there still museums with pay what you wish admission, if not every day, then on certain days weekly or monthly.You just have to know who offers wh ..
New York Time Out
4.5
I mean, come on, youre going to dump that curvy little body Its not even ugly, its cute.
Can Mag
4.0
Its all a con, but thanks to Johnsons way with characters and dialogue, we dont mind the hustle so long as were rewarded along the way.
Orlando Sentinel
3.0
Its a film with more ideas than it can successfully juggle and it doesnt really make sense but it does have a good time playing out its stories.
Stream On Demand At Home
4.5
The success of Juno has re set the bar for whimsical tales of headstrong, intelligent young women grappling with life difficulties.
IGN Movies
2.0
Its broadly comic, sweetly sentimental and sharply satirical at times particularly when it takes on the concept of celebrity and both parents and kids ..
Detroit News
4.0
This is a colorful movie, full of grand sequences and vibrant set pieces.
Movies Ign
3.0
Penelope is a new twist on an old fairy tale template that succeeds for the heartfelt performances of Ricci and James McAvoy.
Film Critic 1963 Typepad
3.5
A fairy tale that may make millions of girls re think that nose job.
Metromix.com
5.0
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Ny Press
3.0
Penelope is a sweet, well intentioned film, and it certainly appealed to the festival crowd I saw it with, but Im just not sure after watching it, who ..
Cinematical
2.0
Like its hero and heroine, this movie is not for everyone, but it will be loved by those who know how to appreciate it.
Movie Mom
4.0
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is one of them.Lacking wit, interesting characters, romantic passion, imagination or even a sense of comic timing, the new ..
Kc Active
3.1
Despite Christina Riccis charming performance, Penelope is trapped in a twilight zone between fairy tales and play it safe romantic comedies.
2 The Advocate
3.5
Penelope suggests that peace comes through character, not cosmetic surgery. In this, its smarter than Twilight...
Looking Closer
3.1
A sweet but clumsy fable thats pleasing without being particularly distinguished.
3.0
Its not eccentric enough to be as otherworldly as it wants to be, but its too self consciously quirky to perform on its own merits.
MSNBC
3.8
Penelope is a fairy tale that will leave parents just as engrossed as their kiddies.
Washington Times
3.1
Penelope is an odd concoction a witchs gentle brew of modern day fairy tale, feather light romance and slapstick comedy. Its not a knockout potion, bu ..
Sign On Sandiego
3.5
Step 1: Find yourself wrapped up in a big ball of quirk.The Brothers Bloom is an intriguingly offbeat yarn that unfortunately unravels towards the end ..
The Movie Kit
4.0
Well, its juicy alright and has plenty of history but the end result is much more like a Barbara Cartland romance novel down to the purple prose.
Knight At The Movies
3.0
A precocious fairy tale made for and starring people too old for whimsy
Ie Weekly
4.1
The Brothers Bloom proves one terrific piece of cinematic legerdemain.
Djardine Blogspot
2.0
Behold the mysterious ways of Hollywood; a charming fairy tale with a heartening message of self acceptance, something truly an entire family can enjo ..
Contra Costa Times
2.5
Unfortunately, Penelope only masquerades as a film about self acceptance and liking ourselves for who we are.
Colorado Springs Gazette
2.5
If Johnson doesnt reinvent the con man wheel, he pulls off a magic act in the romance department, reinvigorating the fiction that first love can be th ..
Blog Spout
2.0
A sweet lollipop of a film, a fable told with charm and whimsy. It does get overly saccharine as it goes on, losing its shape and novelty as it clambe ..
Film Fest
3.0
Its a sweet, mini feminist fable that could have easily been made cloying if not for the deft work of its excellent cast.
Mighty Ganesha
1.5
Just another stab at modern fantasy with some fatal filmmaking flaws that are all too real.
2.5
Penelope is adorable and easy to watch thanks to the charms of its leads Ricci and McAvoy. But its too much a mainstream Hollywood product and not eno ..
KPBS.org
3.8
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Capital Times (Madison, WI ..
3.8
The difference is that if you find yourself buying in and being taken for a ride, you wont be disappointed.
Telegram
4.0
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Nerve
1.0
Some viewers may find its self conscious eccentricities to be somehow charming but if you put this film in a contest against other contemporary fairy ..
See Where to Watch
The Brother Blooms