In Bruges

Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes,
Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Crime
2008

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Two hitmen (Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson) are sent to Bruges after a botched hit. They are told to wait for further instructions from their boss (Ralph Fiennes). However, their idea of laying low soon gets them into trouble.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed this small independent movie about two hitmen stuck in Bruges. There are some very unique qualities to this movie that keep it fresh and entertaining. The dialogue is brilliant, and there are some very funny moments. This crime dramedy has a great deal to like about it. You can really see evidence here that writer-director Martin McDonagh has some serious talent.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson work very well together. They have a great deal of chemistry, and play off each other wonderfully. They are given hilarious dialogue, which makes the movie work. Probably my favorite line of the film is delivered perfectly by Farrell- "If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me, but I didn't, so it doesn't." This is just one example of the hilarious dialogue found throughout the whole movie.

I also have to mention the performance of Ralph Fiennes. I really, really enjoyed him in this movie. He and Gleeson have one of the funniest exchanges of the entire movie (I can't write it here because it is profanity-laced, but it's about his kids). He is great. There's just so many memorable moments throughout this film. That is a direct result of the superb script by McDonagh.

This is a movie that has a bit of everything- hitmen, gunfights, midgets, prostitutes, European culture, karate, drinking, drugs, racism, and much more. You won't find another movie like this. I loved all these diverse, unique elements that come together in this film.

Now, at times, the movie is a bit flawed. Despite a great deal of subplots, the movie is really just a very simple, straightforward story. While there are so many funny parts, I wish there had been a few more. It's funny, but the film does not deliver the emotional punch it should have. I liked this movie, but there wasn't much here to make me think this was a truly great effort. This is nothing against McDonagh, but it feels like the film of a director making his feature-length debut (which he was). I saw flashes of genius here, and I think this is a movie that has flaws, but suggests McDonagh could one day be considered a great director. I very much look forward to his future efforts.

In Bruges is an incredibly unique and unforgettable film that is very funny. It was also nominated for an Academy Award, for Best Original Screenplay, which certainly suggests this is a film worth seeing. I highly recommend it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



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