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Bloom and Brody
Since winning his Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist ('03), Adrien Brody has appeared in one underwhelming so-so after another -- The Village, The Jacket, King Kong, Hollywoodland, The Darjeeling Limited. I don't mean to be snide or churlish, but I've lately come to imagine that there's something called the Adrien Brody curse, or an equation between the poor guy being in a film and that film being a problem. Brody is a fine actor; his performances are always rich. But he has this thing about appearing in films that are either gloomy indies or commercial head-scratchers.
Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Mark Ruffalo
I'd like to believe that his latest pic, The Brothers Bloom, will break the pattern, although I'm a little concerned by the light caperish tone of the ads and the trailer. Here's what gave me particular pause -- an 8.24 New York magazine profile by Logan Hill of Bloom costar Rachel Weisz.
"In the globe-trotting con-artist movie The Brothers Bloom, two lifelong grifters (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) devise double-crosses so fabulously complex that they begin to lose track of where real life ends and the bamboozle begins," Hill begins. "To them, everything -- identity, love, friendship, death -- is a lie.
"Even the film's title is a classic bit of misdirection, because the movie isn't really about the guys, after all. It's about the marvelous mark they pursue: Penelope, a basket-case New Jersey millionairess with a thousand talents and just as many fabulous outfits. And the saucer-eyed, seemingly guileless actor playing Penelope -- Rachel Weisz, as you have definitely never seen her -- steals the film right out from under the brothers' noses."
See what I mean? Sounds frothy, negligible.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 25, 2008 at 3:31 PM
comment #1
The InSneider says ...
I'd say with the exception of The Jacket, which suffered from the Keira Knightley Sucks Curse, all of those Brody movies have been good to very good, with Darjeeling probably being my favorite. He's also got Giallo and, not sure about this one, but Splice? I think he always chooses interesting projects and gives great performances. He's an original. But I agree, Brothers Bloom doesn't look great despite Brody/Ruffalo/Weisz... it's because Rian Johnson is overrated. Brick was all style, no substance. A decent at best movie that got way too much hype. Without Gordon-Levitt that thing is bargain bin. Convoluted storytelling that is too hip for its own good. I'm betting Bloom will be more of the same. Can you say Confidence?
Posted by The InSneider at August 25, 2008 3:57 PM
comment #2
BurmaShave says ...
THE DARJEELING LIMITED is so much stronger than anyone admits, and Brody is a seamlessly perfect fit into the Wes Anderson universe. I hope he's not scared away by small-minded critical response. And he's excellent in all the films you mentioned, except KING KONG, which ironically is a near-great film. so...
What would you have him do instead?
Posted by BurmaShave at August 25, 2008 3:57 PM
comment #3
Chase Kahn says ...
KING KONG is hardly a so-so film, and THE DARJEELING LIMITED wasn't bad. I don't think you can call it a curse, It's not like he's putting out complete garbage...
Posted by Chase Kahn at August 25, 2008 4:00 PM
comment #4
Ray says ...
Stealing a movie out from under Brody's nose would be a crime worthy of its own movie.
Posted by Ray at August 25, 2008 4:08 PM
comment #5
T. S. Idiot says ...
I like KING KONG, HOLLYWOODLAND, and DARJEELING, though Brody is good only in the latter. Though I don't care for BRICK, neither style nor substance, BROTHERS looks like it could be fun. Good to see Weisz do something lighter than her usual doom and gloom. She is the deadliest thing in MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS.
Posted by T. S. Idiot at August 25, 2008 4:08 PM
comment #6
teeem says ...
saw it, or an early version of it. do you want my comments again?
Posted by teeem at August 25, 2008 4:08 PM
comment #7
gruver1 says ...
Wells to teeem: Yes, but at some length, if you could.
Posted by gruver1 at August 25, 2008 4:11 PM
comment #8
C-PhreekII says ...
Brody won in a weak year starring in a very Jewish film. That win got him leading parts that he might not have gotten otherwise. Fine actor, but I don't we have seen his best performance yet because it has become increasingly rare for the kind of films that would give him the opportunity to get greenlite in this age.
Posted by C-PhreekII at August 25, 2008 4:16 PM
comment #9
Ponderer says ...
Bravo, Burma - you're totally right on Darjeeling. I'm not the world's biggest Wes Anderson fan - I liked but didn't love Rushmore and Tenenbaums - but I was enchanted by Darjeeling. And yeah, Brody was terrific in it.
This is a film that's going to age well.
Posted by Ponderer at August 25, 2008 4:19 PM
comment #10
CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...
Brody, good. 2005 King Kong, bad.
Posted by CitizenKanedforChewingGum at August 25, 2008 4:19 PM
comment #11
Devin Faraci says ...
I've seen the film and it's terrific. It's a movie about storytelling, not cons.
Posted by Devin Faraci at August 25, 2008 4:20 PM
comment #12
NC Gary says ...
I hate to bring this up since she's so hot, but what about a Rachel Weisz curse? She followed her Oscar win with THE FOUNTAIN, MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, DEFINITELY, MAYBE, and yikes, FRED CLAUS.
Posted by NC Gary at August 25, 2008 4:25 PM
comment #13
DarthCorleone says ...
Peter Jackson's King Kong is indefensible. I'm not feeling like discussing it at the moment. There was just too much positive opinion in this thread for me to not register my discontent.
Posted by DarthCorleone at August 25, 2008 4:26 PM
comment #14
BurmaShave says ...
Cage in ADAPTATION, Caine in THE QUIET AMERICAN, Day Lewis in GANGS OF NEW YORK, Nicholson in ABOUT SCHMIDT... yes Cphreek, a very weak year for Best Actor. I didn't even have to IMDB that because I remember it as about the strongest Best Actor class in recent memory, making his underdog victory and charming acceptance all the more thrilling.
As for the even accidental suggestion that Holocaust films win Oscars because they are very Jewish, first of all, remind me how many Oscars JAKOB THE LIAR or THE GREY ZONE won, and second, you may now be my least favorite commenter on here.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 25, 2008 4:28 PM
comment #15
BurmaShave says ...
Mother of god by what standards are you people classifying KING KONG, DARJEELING, and now THE FOUNTAIN and DEFINITELY MAYBE as dreadful? Not everything is a four star film, but careers are made up with solid work in films that are often "only" good or very good.
PS everyone in MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, as bad as it was, gets a pass. Who wouldn't want to work with Wong Kar Wai?
Posted by BurmaShave at August 25, 2008 4:35 PM
comment #16
bmcintire says ...
I would say Mark Ruffalo is suffering from a much larger curse (though I think his work is much more consistently engaging than Brody's). Since being thrust into the spotlight with YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, he's had a long winding road of potholes. ETERNAL SUNSHINE and ZODIAC were relatively strong showings (and my God, I'd completely forgotten he was actually in COLLATERAL) but the Rom-Coms, indie-downers and period pieces are painful sits.
Posted by bmcintire at August 25, 2008 4:37 PM
comment #17
adorian says ...
Is Manolete ever going to be released?
Posted by adorian at August 25, 2008 4:40 PM
comment #18
Indeed says ...
So am I the only one psyched to see this movie?
"I collect hobbies...."
Come on. That trailer was a hoot.
Posted by Indeed at August 25, 2008 4:42 PM
comment #19
C-PhreekII says ...
Actually, I had forgotten that Cage - who should have won - was up that year. So, my bad.
But DD Lewis & Nicholson simply chewed scenery. Worse, Nicholson started off portraying the first flesh & blood character free of his various ticks for decades, only to descend into "Jaaaaack!" land at the end and Payne didn't have the balls to rein him back. Caine did nothing we haven't seen him do for the last 20 years. Not knocking it, but there's a reason why there's an honorary award.
I will have sleepless nights over the fact that someone who either cannot see certain logical trends because of a fear of offending others or is so intellectually dishonest and lazy they throw out straw man examples like JAKOB THE LIAR has put a black mark next to my name.
Posted by C-PhreekII at August 25, 2008 4:58 PM
comment #20
Josh Massey says ...
"KING KONG is hardly a so-so film,..."
Right on. It was a truly awful piece of overblown garbage.
Wait, that is what you meant, right?
Posted by Josh Massey at August 25, 2008 4:59 PM
comment #21
Gus Petch says ...
I know I'm in the minority around here on this, but I thought The Village was a first-rate movie. And regardless of your feelings about the movie, you can see why a risk-taking actor would have been attracted to that role.
Posted by Gus Petch at August 25, 2008 5:01 PM
comment #22
LYT says ...
Regarding Brody in The Village...
"Never go full-retard"
Posted by LYT at August 25, 2008 5:17 PM
comment #23
frankbooth says ...
Brody and Ruffalo as siblings...brilliant. But they should have given one of them facial hair so the audience can tell them apart.
Best casting since that film with Connery playing Dustin Hoffman's dad.
Posted by frankbooth at August 25, 2008 5:18 PM
comment #24
corey3rd says ...
THE Darjeeling Limited was a dumb mess that only exists so that Life Aquatic looks like better.
Posted by corey3rd at August 25, 2008 5:43 PM
comment #25
Chase Kahn says ...
"KING KONG is hardly a so-so film,..."
Right on. It was a truly awful piece of overblown garbage.
Wait, that is what you meant, right?
No, not really...
Posted by Chase Kahn at August 25, 2008 6:01 PM
comment #26
T. S. Idiot says ...
"Brody and Ruffalo as siblings...brilliant. But they should have given one of them facial hair so the audience can tell them apart."
First thing I thought upon seeing the trailer was that these boys' mom been sleeping around or Ruffalo got his nose fixed.
Posted by T. S. Idiot at August 25, 2008 7:39 PM
comment #27
TedM says ...
I'm late to the party, but from the synopsis that Mr. Wells proffered, for some reason THE FORTUNE (with Nicholson, Beatty and Stockard Channing) came to mind.
Brody was the underdog but he gave a very memorable performance. Plus I think there was residual feeling in Hollywood over what happened to him with THIN RED LINE. Originally his character was supposed to be the focus of that movie and it was billed as his "big break". When the movie was released, Brody was barely in the damned thing.
Posted by TedM at August 25, 2008 7:42 PM
comment #28
D.Z. says ...
"Since winning bis Best Actor Oscar for The Pianist ('03), Adrien Brody has appeared in one underwhelming so-so after another -- The Village, The Jacket, King Kong, Hollywoodland, The Darjeeling Limited. I don't mean to be snide or churlish, but I've lately come to imagine that there's something called the Adrien Brody curse, or an equation between the poor guy being in a film and that film being a problem. Brody is a fine actor; his performances are always rich. But he has this thing about appearing in films that are either gloomy indies or commercial head-scratchers."
Not that I consider Brody to be a draw myself, but shouldn't the vitriol be directed at Ruffalo?
Posted by D.Z. at August 25, 2008 8:10 PM
comment #29
Mr Hyppo says ...
Frothy = negligible? Somewhere Jeff, right now, the ghost of Preston Sturges just gave you the stink eye.
Posted by Mr Hyppo at August 25, 2008 10:07 PM
comment #30
Morpho! says ...
Argento. All I'm sayin'.
Posted by Morpho! at August 25, 2008 10:17 PM
comment #31
StoneFan1 says ...
2002 was the strongest year for Best Actor
this decade! Wake up!
Posted by StoneFan1 at August 25, 2008 10:19 PM
comment #32
Richardson says ...
I always want to like Brody, because I made a lot of money in an office Oscar pool with my last minute switch to him on a hunch... but he's never [post-Pianist] been all that interesting, and he's practically unwatchable in 'Hollywoodland'.
Posted by Richardson at August 25, 2008 11:09 PM
comment #33
Sergio says ...
Brody is always going to be limited in his movie roles because, let's face it, he's quite a distance from the usual movie star looks. More oddball geek than anything else.
By the way, whatever happned to that movie he made a while back playing that legendary bullfighter?
Posted by Sergio at August 26, 2008 7:38 AM
comment #34
AuggieBenDoggie says ...
Some of the folks here are pretty harsh. Brody has never given a bad performance, and at times is truly brilliant on screen.
Kong was bad for three reasons, Kong doing kung-fu, Jack Black, and a running time a half hour too long.
As for Darjeeling, it made me laugh more then Tropic Thunder did and was a day one DVD purchase.
Posted by AuggieBenDoggie at August 26, 2008 8:35 AM
comment #35
Mr Hyppo says ...
Speaking of harshness, what's with all the Brick hate? Calling that movie style over substance is like saying Niagara Falls is all water and no beauty: the style is the substance.
Posted by Mr Hyppo at August 26, 2008 9:24 AM
comment #36
jesse says ...
Right on, Mr. Hyppo. I'm dying to see The Brothers Bloom mostly because Brick was the best American movie of 2006. Not only that, but Bloom looks like a completely different take on similarly pulpy (con-artist rather than noir/detective) material.
Many of you do seem to take a bizarre all-or-nothing position with most movies and/or people. If anything, Brody's record (in terms of quality) is above-average: Darjeeling is a wonderful, and wonderfully acted, little movie; Hollywoodland was undervalued, as was Brody's performance with Affleck getting all of the attention; hell, I kinda liked him in King Kong, which is way more fun than any of those ponderous Lord of the Rings movies. OK, his part in The Village is pretty lame, but I wouldn't fault any actor for wanting to work with Shyamalan (look at Byce Dallas Howard in the same damn movie, giving a so-far-career-best performance).
And I wasn't even that crazy about his Pianist performance (though I dug his vet-beating Oscar win) -- one of those performances (indeed, one of those movies) where it's so restrained and quasi-subtle that for long stretches, barely anything seems to be there. Give me the messiness of Gangs of New York any day, at least in terms of movies that I have an interest in watching ever again.
Posted by jesse at August 26, 2008 9:33 AM
comment #37
pyramidsfan says ...
Brody? What about Mark Ruffalo? He too is a good actor, but has he ever been in a film that made money?
Posted by pyramidsfan at August 26, 2008 9:44 AM
comment #38
BurmaShave says ...
Sergio, MANOLETE was released as a short film online. Oh I'm sorry that was the promotional trailer, but I made the mistake of watching it. It really is the whole damned movie in ten minutes.
Posted by BurmaShave at August 26, 2008 9:57 AM
comment #39
Krillian says ...
Brick was great. Brody was good in The Jacket and The Village, even if they weren't great. I thought Darjeeling Limited was overrated. King Kong was really good the first time on the big screen, but second time on DVD, all of its problems are amplified.
Posted by Krillian at August 26, 2008 10:14 AM
comment #40
Richardson says ...
"Hollywoodland was undervalued, as was Brody's performance with Affleck getting all of the attention"
The problem with 'Hollywoodland' is that it's a movie about George Reeves which spends more than half of the movie dealing with Brody, largely dealing with an uber-generic plot involving his estrangement from his family which is never related in any way to the Reeves stuff. It's not particularly Brody's fault that the stuff is so boring, but his performance doesn't help it at all.
I've never been all that sold on the guy but, being fair, 'Hollywoodland' is an aberration on his resume; even in movies that bad, he's usually much better.
Posted by Richardson at August 26, 2008 11:01 AM
comment #41
jesse says ...
Richardson, I found that stuff interesting largely because of Brody -- or maybe because I'm a sucker for a down-and-out PI character. Either way, I felt like the filmmakers were pretty upfront about not making a George Reeves biopic, and a version with more Affleck-as-Reeves wouldn't have been as interesting.
That said, Bob Hoskins is fucking awesome in the Reeves flashbacks. "That picture made moeny."
Posted by jesse at August 26, 2008 11:25 AM
comment #42
Richardson says ...
"I felt like the filmmakers were pretty upfront about not making a George Reeves biopic"
I have a few problems with that...
1 - I didn't do the homework and read up on their intent before watching it
2 - it was marketed as a George Reeves biopic, which offsets them being upfront
3 - the old Joss Whedon line about writing 'Waterworld' -- that idea is fine but what does it have to do with your hook?
but the only one which I can lob at the movie is:
4 - the George Reeves story is interesting and long enough to have carried several books; the Adrien Brody plot (fictional? not sure) is generic enough to have been used in hundreds of other books. Just in watching the movie, Reeves was the interesting stuff, but it just felt like the interlude in between long boring scenes of Brody moping.
I don't know if more Affleck-as-Reeves would've been more interesting, but it literally could not have been less.
Posted by Richardson at August 26, 2008 3:03 PM
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