In Bruges
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Movie Reviews of In Bruges
Movie Review: "Maybe that's what hell is, an entire eternity spent In Bruges."
Summary: 5 Stars
After a contract killing goes disastrously wrong, two hitmen are told by their boss, the foul-mouthed Harry, to hide out in Bruges. So they head for Bruges, even though they have no idea why they have been sent there, or even where Bruges is. It's in Belgium. In Bruges, the two hitmen are forced to come to terms with their own inner demons, and they are doomed to face the consequences of their actions.
It is easy to spot that Martin McDonagh, the writer and director of In Bruges, is heavily influenced by Quentin Tarantino. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is the type of movie Tarantino would have made, had he been born in Dublin and not Knoxville, Tennessee. Every Tarantino trademark, from the Mexican standoff to the retrospective storytelling, is brilliantly executed in this film. In addition, the use of piquant and pervading dialogue to build McDonagh's characters and drive the narrative is also superbly executed. Tarantino would be proud. However, this film is not just another Quentin Tarantino knockoff by a British director. Apart from the obvious nods to Tarantino, there are other elements that make this an interesting and distinctly entertaining film. The film is shot on location in Bruges, a small, picturesque town in Belgium, of which most people probably have never heard. Bruges is portrayed as a town steeped in history and religious lore. And, despite Farrell's character, Ray, saying it is a "s******e" at every possible opportunity, Bruges looks quite exquisite on the big screen. If it is to be the last place you see before you die, it is definitely a beautiful place to go.
Another key ingredient of this exemplary film is the tour de force performances by the three leads and supporting cast. Colin Farrell, in my opinion, has never really lived up to his early promise. Farrell has had more misses than hits, but his performance in In Bruges shows that he has impeccable comic timing and can also deliver a performance that is, at the same time, both subtle and poignant. Gleason is superb, as usual, as the older and wiser hitman, who cannot bring himself to punish Farrell's character for his gruesome mistake. And, finally, Ralph Fiennes drops the repressed upper-class-Englishman guise that he usually adopts and plays the frenetic, foul-mouthed gangster with gusto.
In Bruges does get very dark at times, for a film that is billed as a comedy; thus, some viewers will be put off. But, I believe its propensity to shock you one minute and make you laugh the next is one of the film's strongest qualities. Although the writer-director was born in London, it is obvious that there are many strong Irish influences in his life. And, these Irish influences are very evident in his writing.
In Bruges, is a darkly comic film, with lashings of Catholic guilt throughout. Its strength lies in its outstanding characterizations and its ultra-sharp dialogue. In Bruges is an example of screenwriting at its finest and the film is destined to become a classic. Even better still, it is a first-rate advertisement for the city of Bruges. And, after watching the film, I know I want to go there!
Movie Review: Dark Comedy "In Bruges" Makes Good Use of Farrell's Irish Brogue Chops
Summary: 5 Stars
International actors working in Hollywood can often charm and persuade us when featured in big-budget blockbuster films. But in movies that showcase their best qualities in their native tongues--or accents--with scripts closer to wherever they call home, they sometimes shine and dazzle in ways that astound us. That seems to be the case with Colin Farrell as the emotionally wired Irish hit-man Ray in director Martin McDonagh's dark and twisted comedy, In Bruges.
If Farrell has made a name for himself (not to mention some very decent salaries) based more on his "hunk factor" and previous bad-boy image than his talent, his performance in this film reveals him to be a gifted actor indeed. Arguably, it may very well be his finest since his turn as the American soldier Private Roland Bozz in director Joel Schumacher's troubling war film, Tigerland. His role for In Bruges could not be more different. As the comfortably Irish-brogue speaking Ray, he joins fellow hit-man Ken (performed brilliantly by Brendan Gleeson of Harry Potter fame) for his first kill in the small elegant city of Bruges in Brussels. Naturally it goes all wrong and in the course of murdering his intended target--a priest, actually--he accidentally kills a child.
Whereas he feels no remorse over killing the priest, who may or may not have been guilty of some monstrous transgression, the death of the child breaks a code of hit-man honor for which Ray cannot forgive himself. Neither can Ralph Fiennes as Harry Waters, the man who hired him. Distraught and suicidal, Ray nevertheless pursues a romance with the beautiful Chloe (Clemence Poesy) whom he considers a wonderfully nice girl because in her own drug-dealing way she's every bit as gangster as he is. She even forgives him when he steals her illicit stash of pharmaceuticals and goes on a partying binge with partner Ken and the aloofly arrogant movie star dwarf named Jimmy, played impressively by Jordan Prentice.
As amazingly weird and macabre as In Bruges is, the movie in its essence--right up to the shocking end-- is mostly about exercising respect for established principles, and the struggle to preserve a sense of innocence in a world where innocence is literally murdered every day. Like Farrell, Gleeson and Fiennes deliver exceptional performances in their portrayals of complicated characters who are brutally ruthless and yet, at the same time, unnervingly sensitive and emotionally vulnerable. We somehow find ourselves empathizing with them when probably we should be denouncing them, and laughing when it might make more sense to shed a tear or two.
by Author-Poet Aberjhani
author of The American Poet Who Went Home Again
and Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World
Movie Review: Dark Humour, Violence & Gore, Self-Sacrifice & Freindship All In One Very Original Movie!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this movie late one night/early morning on HBO
and was enthralled in it the entire time!
I love a good independent film which strays off the beaten path,
yet in it's originality, doesn't lose or alienate with it's desire to be different.
A lot of times, indies rely too much on trying to shock and be esoteric that they
loose focus and just run haywire!---Well, this wasn't the case with "IN BRUGES"!
The one thing you may or may not have a problem with is the very thick irish brogue
that both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson speak in during this film, but then they
are playing very working class lower level irish hitmen who work for the London syndicate.
Alot of the humour is very british and irish, but still translates well I think.
Gleeson plays a more seasoned, world-weary hitman who has a no miss/no mess reputation
in his dubious line of work. Farrell plays a gruff, hot-headed, quicksilver younger hitman
who does things more off the cuff than Gleeson's more methodical and thorough character does!
This dynamic adds to the friction and alot of the darkly comic moments in this film.
The two are an odd couple of sorts who constantly bicker & banter, but respect each
other as much as two murderous criminals can.
They have an older brother/younger brother relationship.
Well, the two are comissioned to a "job" that goes horribly wrong and
starts a chain of unfortunate events that takes place in the unlikely
city of Bruges, Belgium. Bruges is known as a beautiful bohemian type city
in Belgium, which prides itself on being one of the most intact (architecturally)
european cities dating back to the dark ages.
Gleeson and Farrell find themselves reluctantly exiled there after the fouled hit,
awaiting further instructions from their BOSS, ruthlessly and cunningly
played by the great Ralph Fiennes, who gives a darkly chilling yet funny
(in some parts) performance in this ensemble film.
While they wait to hear further instructions, Gleeson and Farrell encounter the
very friendly but quirky townsfolk of Bruges, which add moments
of levity to offset the graphic violence in some places throughout the film.
Anyway, the order comes down from THE BOSS and it's not an easy pill to swallow
for Gleeson, and from there the film takes on a poignant, tragic, yet ultimately
triumphant turn that will have you clapping at the end, I promise.
Even though it will be an ending that you don't expect. (-:
I give this movie 5 stars for it's originality, great writing,
believable acting, dark humour and overall entertainment value!
A worthwhile addition to your DVD collection!
Movie Review: "It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's (bleep)ing thing!?"
Summary: 5 Stars
It's a really tough task to make a movie that can be both hysterically funny and tragically sad at the same time. Don't do it right and you can have yourself a movie that feels uneven and awkward. That is not the case with "In Bruges," which has to be my favorite film of 2008. This is a film where the characters and even the location are the real stars.
Ken and Ray are hit men who have to hide out in Bruges when a hit goes wrong and Ray ends up accidently killing a kid. Their boss, Harry, is none too happy with the end results and orders the two to hide out while he figures out what needs to be done. Laying low is not exactly the easiest thing for these two, seeing that Ken is completely taken away by Bruges and must sightsee. Ray, on the other hand, can't stand the bloody place and just about offends everybody who crosses paths with him--and let's not forget he has the most abnormal fascination with midgets. Ray also is feeling a lot of guilt and sadness over the poor little boy he accidently killed and has no idea if he can ever make things right again. All of this equals one vacation that they, nor you, will never forget.
I cannot express how much I love this movie. It is weird to encounter a movie that has both equal elements of comedy and tragedy. Because of this, you must sit and watch it all the way through before you can come to a concrete conclusion about the film, and I also highly recommend seeing it more than once. My appreciation and love of the movie grows with each viewing. There are so many memorable lines and scenes that will sure enough make this a cult hit within good time.
As I mentioned before, the characters and location are the real stars rather than plot. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson make a great team and really convince you that they are in fact "Ray" and "Ken." And I cannot forget Ralph Fiennes who is both chilling and surprisingly even a bit sympathetic with his character. The movie is brilliantly written, shot and directed.
I have to add that the DVD looks GORGEOUS. I could've sworn that I was watching it on Blu-Ray. The DVD includes a couple of behind-the-scenes featurettes.
"In Bruges" was an amazing experience for me, and it's one that I'll never forget. I love it when films dare to be different and refuses to be something where you can predict everything that is going to happen frame-by-frame. There are surprises in this movie, yes, but nothing that happens in this movie happens without a reason. I really hope more people will check it out. It's destined to be a classic, or at least that's the way I see it. - Michael Crane
Movie Review: Even Professional Murderers Have Their Feelings
Summary: 5 Stars
"Without dreaming of telling you what happens next, I will say it is not only ingenious but almost inevitable the way the screenplay brings all of these destinies together at one place and time. Along the way, there are times of great sadness and poignancy, times of abandon, times of goofiness, and that kind of humor that is really funny because it grows out of character and close observation. Farrell in particular hasn't been this good in a few films, perhaps because this time he's allowed to relax and be Irish." Roger Ebert
'In Bruges' is one of those films that surprises you around every corner. The first impression I had was 'I have got to visit Bruges'- the film depicts such a beautiful, medieval city and every scene has a new vista. The city seems to play upon the characters- the towers, the museums, the churches, the pubs, the cobblestone square, and the canals all feed in to give us a view of the mindset of the two main characters. Brendan Gleeson, a big hunk of a man who has a face like a map of the world. Every feeling, every expression is shown on his face. Colin Farrell, is a true Irishman, Bruges to him is a 'shitpot'. He is not a sightseer, nothing nice about the place, just wants a beer in a pub and to move on. Ralph Fiennes as the boss back in London, heard on the phone and finally seen.
These two men Gleeson and Farrell are Irish hitmen. The premise is pretty simple. They kill and one of them made a mistake and killed a child. They have been sent to Bruges to hide. The boss loves Bruges, and this is supposed to be a treat. Well, it is for Gleeson, he is the inveterate sightseer and does all the spots and enjoys it. Farrell, on the other hand hates Bruges- hia scene is beer and pubs and he wants to go home. He realizes some fun when he comes upon a movie being filmed. He makes friends with a young woman who supplies drugs to the crew, and a dwarf who is in a dream sequence. From there on the film moves from one surprise to the other. We finally get to see Fiennes and his surprising personality. That is all I am going to say.
This is a sharply written and superbly acted film. As one of my other friend's review states- this is 'Pulp Fiction' with heart and soul.
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 06-29-08
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