The Long Delayed Release of Brothers Bloom… and How to Watch the First Seven Minutes Legally

About a year ago, I found a poster for the movie Brothers Bloom, director Rian Johnson's follow up to the criminally under seen Brick, possibly the most intelligent film to ever use high school as its primary backdrop. It was also the film that proved that Joseph Gordon Levitt could really act. That poster has been on my screen at work since that date awaiting the film's release and reminding me everyday that I really want to see the film.

Brothers Bloom was originally scheduled to be released last fall but some bigshot probably decided that it needed a cozy summer blockbuster release in May to get as little attention as possible. Well, I'm not going to let that happen. According to Film Releases, it will open in limited release (probably 5 theatres in NYC, LA, & Austin) in against the Illumanati and Tom Hanks on May 15 and then "expand" (to probably 25 theatres) against Pixar's Up (which I also really want to see) and Sam Raimi's return to normalcy of geeky horror films from Spiderman films Drag Me To Hell. While Up will most certainly wipe the box office floor with all these foes, I implore you to see Brothers Bloom. I'm not saying don't see Up. You can see it, see it in 3D, I will but make sure to try and catch Brothers Bloom in theaters. Support this work because from what I've seen Rian Johnson is a filmmaker worth supporting.

Ok, I'll answer the big question, what's the plot? They call it a globetrotting con man story starring Mark Ruffalo and Adrien Brody as the Brothers trying to pull of a con on some rich broad (Weisz). It may sound formulaic as can be but in the right hands I think it will excel. Are you someone who needs to read a review first? Here's one.

If my pleading, my recommendation, and my guarantee aren't enough, why not watch the first seven minutes excellent narrated by Ricky Jay, the official sleight-of-hand man of the Hollywood kind and frequent collaborator with David Mamet & Paul Thomas Anderson. Jay knows how to get involved with the right people so his involvement should say something. Take a look and I'm sure you'll be convinced (via Hulu):

Related Links:

Brothers Bloom on Wikipedia
Rian Johnson's Site/Blog
Brothers Bloom on Rotten Tomatoes

Borat, Brick, Babel: Joe's Haphazard Collection of 2006's Best Films

I used to spend the whole year mapping this baby out. The first official list I remember was in '98. My #1 film was Mamet's The Spanish Prisoner. Long explanations were written and the list was kept as the year went long. And then I didn't do it for years. I felt empty. So here it is, for 2006 in somewhat of an order...



1. Borat
The funniest movie of the millennium. I've never thought I'd say this but I can't wait to see what's on the DVD. There's problem an extra film's worth of footage on there.

2. Brick
A high school mystery like no other. Takes a while to get into but worth for the few who try.


3. Little Miss Sunshine

4. The Proposition
An Australian Western written by Nick Cave? Gritty and awesome.

5. Thank You For Smoking
If I hadn't read the book, I would have loved this one even more.

6. Half Nelson
Further proof that a decent script and Ryan Gosling can equal an excellent film.

7. Inside Man
Spike Lee goes mainstream and Clive Owens makes it excel.

8. Casino Royale
Grittier is better seems to be a common thread on this list.

9. The Prestige
The better of the magic movies.

10. Volver
Not Pedro's best but it will do.

11. Babel
A beautiful film that is mentally draining to watch.

12. Catch a Fire
Critic's love the movies about war torn Africa but seemed to have passed this one over. Tim Robbins and Derek Luke put in dead on performances.

13. Jackass: Number Two Not much different than number one just unbelievably funny. The ultimate documentary in tomfoolery.

14. The Devil and Daniel Johnston
An interesting film about an even more interesting individual. This year's Jandek on Corwood.

15. Crank / Running Scared - Awesome by virtue of utter ridiculousness, Both the epitome of the heart pounding non stop action film quote. Missed: A lot of films sadly including The Fountain, The Departed, Children of Men, Pan's Labyrinth, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters From Iwo Jima, A Scanner Darkly, History Boys, Fast Food Nation, The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, The Science of Sleep and more…

Sadly, this list seems longer than the movies I enjoyed this year.

And here's the Underwhelming Five:

V For Vendetta
Lots of hype and patience led to overbearing poppycock.

School For Scoundrels
Could have been funny but wasn't despite the attempts of Billy Bob

Miami Vice
The most ridiculously unwatchable film of the year and easily the worst 10 bucks I ever spent.

Unknown White Male / The Puffy Chair Indie drivel. The Puffy Chair is a road trip comedy about a puffy chair. Think an attempt at a Wes Anderson film with not many laughs and even less style. Unknown White Male is a documentary that appears fictional about an interesting memory loss phenomena. Too bad a half hour documentary turns into eighty minute blubbery.

Later this week Top TV and the long awaited Top Albums of the year...