Review: ‘In Bruges’

Zac:

Martin McDonagh’s feature debut is an impressive one that weaves dark humor with a bit of action while diving into the psyche of a hit man.
Ray and Ken (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, respectively) are instructed by their employer Harry (Ralph Fiennes) to lay low in Bruges, Belgium after performing a hit in London while the crime cools down before they are allowed to return. Bruges is a medieval town filled with canals, steeples, and stone buildings and tourists must see if you ever happen to visit Belgium. Ken is in love with the town, seeing the sights and enjoying his days touring the locales while Ray feels as he is in Hell and loathes every moment he has to spend there.
As details unfold about the hit we are allowed to look deeper into the minds and philosophies of these two men and as we learn more and more the plot thickens and the circumstances for these two raises in a hurry.
Ray finds a girl while Ken finds Bruges and the story is about both of them trying to come to terms with what they have done while finding something they never thought they would In Bruges.
I won’t delve into the plot any further, as it has some twists and turns, but the story is top notch and applies a nice spin to the hit man film that you normally don’t get to see. The film is also very brutal at times, so be warned as there are a few bits not for the squeamish.
Farrell is fantastic here and I hope he will be allowed to reach the career he deserves and has had success in hit last couple of films as an indie film player. Farrell is able to carry the humor, irreverence, action, and emotion that come with Ray and he does it with ease, creating one of the more fun characters in a film in this young year.
Brendan Gleeson is also great as usual in a lead role that he is not usually accustomed too. Gleeson is almost always plays a fantastic over the top supporting player in his films, but here he is quiet and subdued and a man coming to grips with peace of mind and it’s refreshing to see his range and to see that he is just as good in a role of this nature.
Ralph Fiennes is nothing but a voice for the first 2/3 of the film and plays a crazy son of a bitch that is forced to finish a job and Fiennes is just having a blast as the manic Harry. Gleeson and Fiennes have some great scenes together as well and we really get to know these two characters and their relationship with minimal screen time due to the great work these two do on screen together.
Go into this film expecting a hit man action film and you will be disappointed possibly as it is more of a look into these guys’ minds and their paths in life as they discuss religion, death, and life while they wander Bruges. But the experience is funny, twisted, and always interesting that will be a rewarding experience and only get better upon further viewings I imagine. All the actors are fantastic and I didn’t even begin to touch on the dwarf sub plot or the romance involved around Ray. This is a great, darkly humorous, film that is the cream of the crop of 08’s early offerings.

(4.5 out of 5)

Scott:

This passed weekend I had the chance to go and watch ‘In Bruges’ before it went out of theaters all together. The Tivoli here in St. Louis was still running it so we couldn’t resist. From the trailer you expect a funny English-type comedy, but what you get back is far greater than that.

For me Collin Farrell has always just been a guy with a decent American accent that they throw into smart action roles. Seeing him portray an Irish hit-man in this Comedy/Drama really changed my outlook on what he is capable of. Throw that in with the fact that everyone’s favorite midget dwarf Jordan Prentice and you have a great movie on your hands.

(5 out of 5)

Favorite quote from the movie? “Look, Ken. I grew up in Dublin, and I love Dublin. If I had grown up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn’t, so it doesn’t.”

Travis:

n Bruges (2008) is many things, but one thing it is not is some ridiculous action-comedy buddy movie. In Bruges is what these movies would be if they were actually good. Martin McDonagh (Six Shooter) wrote and directed this surprisingly good film that takes us on a very entertaining moral tale of two hit-men hiding out in Bruges, Belgium. Ken, played by Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter), is the straight-laced hit-man who follows his orders and minds his P’s & Q’s, whereas Ray, played by Colin Farrell (Miami Vice), is the loose cannon hit-man just looking to have fun. The two men have been told to hide out and keep a low profile in Bruges until their boss Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes (Red Dragon), calls them at their hotel with further instructions.

In the beginning, Ken wishes only to take in the town’s culture and history as any tourist would, but finds himself constantly fighting to keep Ray on his best behavior. The story gradually morphs into Ray finding himself losing his composure, trying to come to terms with what he’s done, which is why the two are in Bruges in the first place. Ken tries to help Ray deal with his guilt as best he can, until he gets the call from Harry. In Bruges makes its stunning entrance as a powerful story of redemption at this crucial turning point, marking a life-changing epiphany for Ken and a dangerous battle for Ray, both with himself and others. The movie climaxes with one of the most intense action sequences I’ve seen in a while, followed by a twist of fates and a disturbing, yet darkly humorous ending.

(4 out of 5)

Nick:

Two Irish hit men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), spend time in Bruges, Belgium. They’ve just finished a “job† in London and are waiting to hear from their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes).

Now keep in mind, the previous statement isn’t really a summarization of the film. It’s just the set-up; the springboard for what becomes a surprisingly dark, often humorous look at mankind’s hypocrisies and atrocities.

I expected that there would be humor in this film, especially after seeing the trailer, and Farrell and Gleeson have a great chemistry. Bruges, itself, is a kind of running gag. Oh, and let’s not forget the dwarf American actor, Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), whose presence may seem like an attempt at a cheap joke, but becomes something else entirely.

I also expected a fair amount of violence, but got more than I thought I would. Serious violence with serious consequences, coupled with serious meditations on the nature of Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. The film never beats you over the head, but it does present the audience with some interesting ideas.

There’s even a little romance between Ray and a Bruges local, Chloe (Clemence Poesy).

McDonagh’s film is at once very funny, frighteningly violent, and surprisingly tender. It can be a jarring combination, but it works, chiefly because the characters are so well written. This may be McDonagh’s first feature, but he’s an accomplished playwright and an Oscar winner for his short film, Six Shooter.

I feel like I should cut this review short, because I think this movie works if you go in knowing as little as possible. In Bruges is an experience, with its emotional hit men, dwarf actors, Dutch prostitutes, violence, and the emotional consequences that accompany all of it.

Enjoy.

(4 out of 5)

[rating:4.5/5]