Bloomsday Has Arrived in Hollywood

September 18, 2008

Bloomsday! How 'The Brothers Bloom' madcap tale of globe-trotting style and romance once again puts the faux Hollywood surname 'Bloom' in lights

By Dan Bloom (no relation to any of the Blooms in this story)

BOSTON, MASS (RUSHPRNEWS) 09/18/2008--Can anyone tell me what's with all these Blooms in Hollywood movies? And Broadway shows? There was "Blume in Love" and Leo Bloom in "The Producers" and Claire Bloom and Orlando Bloom in all kinds of films, and now comes "The Brothers Bloom" directed by Rian Johnson. Does somebody have a copyright on the name Bloom? Does Harold Bloom at Yale know anything about this?

It all began, of course, with James Joyce in Dublin, Ireland, when he wrote "Ulysses" and made Leopold and Molly Bloom his main characters.

Now "The Brothers Bloom" -- starring Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo as brothers who target a drop-dead gorgeous heiress played by the drop-dead gorgeous Rachel Weisz -- comes at us full steam ahead, full of "Belgians, Russians and Lamborghis", as one critic put it, and what a blooming mess of a good time it is!

Bravo, Rian Johnson.

The movie begins blooming on December 19 in New York and Los Angeles and opens wide on January 16 after the New Year. Will it bloom near you? Check out your local listings on the web to make sure. Previews in Toronto were well-received and word of mouth is spreading, er, blooming.

But really now, what's with all these Blooms in Hollywood?

In the movie, Ruffalo plays Stephen Bloom, the older brother of the duo. Brody plays the younger brother who for some odd reason does not get a first name at all in the entire movie and is just called "Bloom" all the way through.

That even got Adrien Brody to thinking out loud in an interview he did in Premiere magazine. When reporter Jenni Miller asked him if maybe his name was meant to be was a verb -- "to bloom" -- in the film, he replied: "That's probably a good question for [the director/writer Johnson], but maybe it's true too. Because I'm also referred to as Bloom, which would mean, what, my [name is Mr.] Bloom Bloom? Bloom is blooming? It's a verb."

Hollywood is blooming, that's for sure. Almost every movie you see has a character named Bloom in it. Maybe it's a Hollywood trade secret, like the man named Alan Smithees who sometimes is credited as being the director of a movie when the actual director is too embarrassed by the final result. to have his real name appear in the credits.

Whatever, somebody should copyright the name Bloom and charge a fee everytime a movie does a Leo Bloom or a Stephen Bloom or a Leopold Bloom. What's next: "Shakespear in Bloom"? I would not be surprised.

And don't forget Edward Bloom in "Big Fish", that wonderful 2003 movie adapted from Daniel Wallace's fantastic book. (I say don't forget Edward Bloom because that was the name of my dearly beloved uncle Eddie Bloom -- New Jersey toy salesman extraordinaire -- who died of cancer when I was 18.)

And also in 2003, there was Kate Winslet in "The Life of David Gale"
playing an investigative journalist named Bitsey Bloom. Where do all these "Blooms" come from?

Did I mention "Blume in Love" above? I think I did. There was also a
1935 movied movied "Love in Bloom" starring George Burns and Gracie Allen. "Blume in Love" came out back in 1973 with George Segal playing "Stephen Blume".

A lot of people think Bloom is an American name, but it's not. In fact, not even a real name. I know you don't believe me, but I am going to tell you how this name Bloom came to be. I asked my father once. He told me.

You see, a lot of immigrants from Russia and Poland and Hungary and Germany and other countries in Europe came over to America in the long long ago that is ancient history, and when many of these people arrived -- around the late 1890s, early 1900s -- most of them could not speak English very well.

That's because English was not their native language, as it is of most Blooms named Bloom today. So when my father's grandfather came over to Ellis Island on a ship back in those days of long long ago, the immigration clerk asked him what his name was and my greatgrandfather
replied: "Abraham Zembalistkrevkashenko".

This of course was way too long for the immigration form and hardly pronouncable with an American accent, so the clerk said: "Abe, you are now Abe Bloom. Welcome to America!"

And that, dear readers, is how the Blooms of the world became known as Blooms. Don't believe me? Ask Orlando Bloom or Claire Bloom -- or Adrien Brody.

LINK to "BLOOMS OF THE WORLD" WEBSITE:
http://bloomsinthenews.blogspot.com

--------------

About the Author: Dan Bloom is a Rush PR News political and environmental news columnist/reporter and a freelance writer from Boston, who has been based in Asia since 1991. He graduated from Tufts University in 1971 and has worked in media, public relations and education in several countries. He is currently doing research on climate change and global warming as the founder of the Polar Cities Research Institute.   Write him at danbloom@RushPRnews.com

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Comments

NULL (2008-09-19)

This article has generated lots of mail worldwide, and especially from Orlando Bloom fans on various websites! One woman in NYC writes in her comments: "What an adorable article! Next to Orlando Bloom, I think my favorite Bloom is Edward Bloom (and William Bloom is okay ,too). "Big Fish" is one of my favorite movies! Thanks, Ginger, for fowarding this article to me. I think I will ask Orlando Bloom about the origin of his name."

NULL (2008-09-19)

An email from a Japanese man in Tokyo notes: Very interesting. RE: So when my father's grandfather came over to Ellis Island on a ship back in those days of long long ago, the immigration clerk asked him what his name was and my greatgrandfather replied: "Abraham Zembalistkrevkashenko". This of course was way too long for the immigration form and hardly pronouncable with an American accent, so the clerk said: "Abe, you are now Abe Bloom. Welcome to America!" Is it true, or your great-grandfather's joke ? I think it's a real story. Orlando Bloom is very much popular in Japan. My two daughters here in Tokyo were mad about him in "The Lord of the Rings" : "Cho kakko ii". I suppose every girl fell in love with him at the time. Cheers Mr Abe

NULL (2008-09-19)

Larry Bloom, who used to live in Alaska and now lives in Maine, writes: "Thanks for the link to the Blooms Brothers in Hollywood article. Here's a Bloom movie link you haven't seen that should put a smile on your face: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3113791 -- Larry NOTE: I guess Larry was an extra in a few Hwood movies shot on location in Alaska. Cool. Another blooming Bloom!

NULL (2008-09-19)

Rob Bloom, the humorist, online humor writer, wrote in too: "Danny, well done. Funny piece!"

NULL (2008-09-19)

You know that famous syndicated movie reviewer "Joe Bob Briggs"? His real name is John Bloom. Google him.

NULL (2008-09-19)

Now PREMIER magazine has a link too at their forum page. http://forums.premiere.com/movie/board/message?board.id=3&message.id=8816 Bloom name for characters in Hollywood? - Hollywood News ... -... Almost every movie you see has a character named Bloom in it. Maybe it’s a Hollywood trade secret, like the man named Alan Smithees who ... forums.premiere.com/movie/board/message?board.id=3&message.id=8816

NULL (2008-09-19)

Jim Wells, a blogger in Hwood, writes on his blog re the Brody name in the movie: "Brody's character's last name is Bloom, as is his brother Stephen, who's played by Mark Ruffalo...and yet Brody is repeatedly addressed as "Bloom" and Ruffalo is called "Stephen." I fell in hate with the movie over this point alone. " Nick Carroway noted: "The calling-the-younger-brother-"Bloom"-thing drove me absolutely freaking nuts when I read this script a year and a half ago."

NULL (2008-09-19)

Another movie with the Bloom tag: "Who Loves the Sun" (2007) said one reviewer: Will Morrison (played by LUKAS HAAS) and Daniel BLOOM (played by ADAM SCOTT) were the best of friends. They grew up together. Went to the same schools. Liked the same records. Loved the same girls. Daniel Bloom was Will's best man at his wedding to Maggie Claire (played by MOLLY PARKER). "WHO LOVES THE SUN" was a delightfully witty character comedy, featuring perfectly pitched performances, a great soundtrack from Portastatic, songs from Silver Jews, and some hilariously realistic bad fighting.

NULL (2008-09-24)

THIS EMAIL ARRIVED FROM THE DIRECTOR RIAN JOHNSON Dear Dan, This is very cool, Dan. As a side note, I did think Bloom's name was a pretty kooky thing for that blogger you told me abouts to get so ravenously angry about, but hey, that's what makes his blog entertaining to read. For what it's worth (and most people who've seen the movie I think pick up on this) the brothers grew up kicked around as orphans, just the two of them fending for themselves. Stephen always just called his brother "Bloom," as a nickname, and both because Bloom didn't like his first name and because they were never in school or with the same parents for very long, it just stuck. Also, at the start of the film, Bloom's problem is exactly that: he's been living life through his brother's cons for so long, he doesn't really know who he is outside of their partnership. My own guess as to Bloom's first name? "Dan." Ka-ZING! Though I hope nobody guesses it for real, or I will have spun all that straw into gold for nothing. -Rian

NULL (2008-09-19)

This article has generated lots of mail worldwide, and especially from Orlando Bloom fans on various websites! One woman in NYC writes in her comments: "What an adorable article! Next to Orlando Bloom, I think my favorite Bloom is Edward Bloom (and William Bloom is okay ,too). "Big Fish" is one of my favorite movies! Thanks, Ginger, for fowarding this article to me. I think I will ask Orlando Bloom about the origin of his name."

NULL (2008-09-19)

An email from a Japanese man in Tokyo notes: Very interesting. RE: So when my father's grandfather came over to Ellis Island on a ship back in those days of long long ago, the immigration clerk asked him what his name was and my greatgrandfather replied: "Abraham Zembalistkrevkashenko". This of course was way too long for the immigration form and hardly pronouncable with an American accent, so the clerk said: "Abe, you are now Abe Bloom. Welcome to America!" Is it true, or your great-grandfather's joke ? I think it's a real story. Orlando Bloom is very much popular in Japan. My two daughters here in Tokyo were mad about him in "The Lord of the Rings" : "Cho kakko ii". I suppose every girl fell in love with him at the time. Cheers Mr Abe

NULL (2008-09-19)

Larry Bloom, who used to live in Alaska and now lives in Maine, writes: "Thanks for the link to the Blooms Brothers in Hollywood article. Here's a Bloom movie link you haven't seen that should put a smile on your face: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3113791 -- Larry NOTE: I guess Larry was an extra in a few Hwood movies shot on location in Alaska. Cool. Another blooming Bloom!

NULL (2008-09-19)

Rob Bloom, the humorist, online humor writer, wrote in too: "Danny, well done. Funny piece!"

NULL (2008-09-19)

You know that famous syndicated movie reviewer "Joe Bob Briggs"? His real name is John Bloom. Google him.

NULL (2008-09-19)

Now PREMIER magazine has a link too at their forum page. http://forums.premiere.com/movie/board/message?board.id=3&message.id=8816 Bloom name for characters in Hollywood? - Hollywood News ... -... Almost every movie you see has a character named Bloom in it. Maybe it’s a Hollywood trade secret, like the man named Alan Smithees who ... forums.premiere.com/movie/board/message?board.id=3&message.id=8816

NULL (2008-09-19)

Jim Wells, a blogger in Hwood, writes on his blog re the Brody name in the movie: "Brody's character's last name is Bloom, as is his brother Stephen, who's played by Mark Ruffalo...and yet Brody is repeatedly addressed as "Bloom" and Ruffalo is called "Stephen." I fell in hate with the movie over this point alone. " Nick Carroway noted: "The calling-the-younger-brother-"Bloom"-thing drove me absolutely freaking nuts when I read this script a year and a half ago."

NULL (2008-09-19)

Another movie with the Bloom tag: "Who Loves the Sun" (2007) said one reviewer: Will Morrison (played by LUKAS HAAS) and Daniel BLOOM (played by ADAM SCOTT) were the best of friends. They grew up together. Went to the same schools. Liked the same records. Loved the same girls. Daniel Bloom was Will's best man at his wedding to Maggie Claire (played by MOLLY PARKER). "WHO LOVES THE SUN" was a delightfully witty character comedy, featuring perfectly pitched performances, a great soundtrack from Portastatic, songs from Silver Jews, and some hilariously realistic bad fighting.

NULL (2008-09-24)

THIS EMAIL ARRIVED FROM THE DIRECTOR RIAN JOHNSON Dear Dan, This is very cool, Dan. As a side note, I did think Bloom's name was a pretty kooky thing for that blogger you told me abouts to get so ravenously angry about, but hey, that's what makes his blog entertaining to read. For what it's worth (and most people who've seen the movie I think pick up on this) the brothers grew up kicked around as orphans, just the two of them fending for themselves. Stephen always just called his brother "Bloom," as a nickname, and both because Bloom didn't like his first name and because they were never in school or with the same parents for very long, it just stuck. Also, at the start of the film, Bloom's problem is exactly that: he's been living life through his brother's cons for so long, he doesn't really know who he is outside of their partnership. My own guess as to Bloom's first name? "Dan." Ka-ZING! Though I hope nobody guesses it for real, or I will have spun all that straw into gold for nothing. -Rian

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