Hard to imagine a better way to kick off the 31st Starz Denver Film Festival than with “The Brothers Bloom.”

Writer/director Rian Johnson of “Brick” fame has deep Denver roots, and the film’s unbridled imagination is what film festivals should be all about.

“Bloom” stars Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo as brothers, natch, who have spent their whole lives conning others. They’re masters at their craft, but Bloom (Brody) can’t reconcile his crimes with his conscience any longer. Brother Stephen (Ruffalo) has no such qualms, as he proves when he targets a loopy millionaire named Penelope (Rachel Weisz) as their next mark.

Bloom begrudgingly goes along with the con. But he doesn’t plan on falling so hard, and so fast, for the lovely Penelope. And who wouldn’t? It’s impossible not to crush on the beguiling Weisz.

“Bloom” is far too tangled and convoluted to describe from this point on, but suffice to say the sly machinations behind “Brick” only hinted at Johnson’s film aspirations.

His new film offers a crash course in cinema humor, from the delightful Rinko Kikuchi of “Babel” fame as the brothers’ silent partner to so many visual gags the film begs for a second viewing.

Johnson’s artistry, and grasp of comedic timing, are shockingly high for a young filmmaker. Some will accuse him of cribbing elements from different directors – a little Wes Anderson here, a snippet of the Coens there. But he’s packaged “Bloom” as his very own vision, and if Tarantino can crib from his muses without being called a copycat, so can Johnson.

Audiences will have to swallow hard at some of the storytelling shortcuts taken in “Bloom.” Some character growth springs from thin air, and Penelope’s motives seem to change from scene to scene. But the action constantly tickles our senses, from Kikuchi’s noiseless mugging to the gorgeous backdrops of locales like Montenegro.

Brody’s career hasn’t been the same since he won a Best Actor Oscar for “The Pianist,” but he’s perfection here as the sad-sack Bloom. Wish the same can be said for Ruffalo.

The actor’s initial film performances drew favorable comparisons to Marlon Brando. Today, he’s revealed himself as a limited actor who should stick to films that fall more comfortably in his range. He isn’t bad in “Bloom,” but a more charismatic actor would have elevated the role of the wicked brother to delirious heights.

“The Brothers Bloom” opens in limited release next month, but will go wide in January. Check it out … and imagine what else Johnson has in store for audiences the next time around.

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