'The Brothers Bloom' charming, funny and clever

Director: Rian Johnson

Cast: Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi

Cert: 12

A beefed-up, sharper 'Dirty, Rotten Scoundrels' with Ruffalo (Stephen) and Brody (Bloom) playing a couple of ultra conmen who reap untold benefits from their carefully-constructed scams.

Stephen is the one who thinks up the stories and characters that bedrock the cons, Bloom is the one who plays them out, until he is no longer certain who exactly he is … and wants out.

Not before they pull one last con, squiring rich heiress Penelope (Weisz) around with the mute assistance of their sidekick Bang-Bang (Kikuchi) … not without its complications.

It’s a charming, funny, clever film with elaborate scams and plot twists and several entertaining central performances.

Star Rating: 4/5