Released 18th April 2008
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You know when you’re onto a real winner when one of the opening lines rings true: “Didn’t know where the f**k Bruges was? …It’s in Belgium”. Martin McDonagh’s fantastic and deliciously devilish dark comedy is full of laugh-out-loud subtleties in a barrage of totally un-PC and coarse dialogue.
The situation of two Irish hit men made to ‘wait it out’ in a foreign town after a botched job gives plenty of scope for comic happenings in itself, but it is the fact that these two screw-ups play out their insecurities and contemplate the morals of their dubious profession in the ‘arse-end’ of a European country that’s taken its fair share of ribbing from other nationalities over the years, including us Brits. And the ridicule never stops, verging on the insulting that’s punctuated by a bad-taste joke about Belgium being famous for ‘child abuse and chocolates’ from rookie Ray, played by Colin Farrell.
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Farrell is excellent in this role as the bigoted and overtly aggressive Ray who also possesses a child-like fragility and understanding of the world, pulling faces we’re more accustomed to seeing Father Dougal Maguire from the hit comedy series Father Ted pull in naïve response to events around him. Brendan Gleeson as veteran killer Ken is the weary father figure to Ray, forever cleaning up ‘his mess’ - hence, they are in Bruges. Whilst these two wait for the next move from psycho boss Harry or ‘Arry (Ralph Fiennes), surrounded by the mediaeval festive beauty and tranquillity of Bruges life, they still manage to attract the city’s lowlife, even though Ken tries in vain to appreciate its magic and culture, like a last minute attempt at redemption for his sins. Fiennes is chillingly brilliant as the deranged crime boss with morals (never kill kids), a role he plays in stark similarity to Ben Kingsley’s brutal and unhinged gangster character Don Logan in Sexy Beast. The drugs, thieving and shoot-outs seem as alien in the historic surroundings as the surroundings are to the characters, including a coked up and horse-tranquiliser-fuelled dwarf actor. These evils represent the modern-day ones that lurk in the city’s infamous alcoves (see the running joke in the film).
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With a penchant for close-ups depicting the emotion of the moment from each character, McDonagh has created a personable tale of two hit men, unlike any other that guarantees uninhibited laughs and a sudden yearning to visit Bruges!
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By Lisa Keddie
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Synopsis
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A darkly comedic tale of the fates of hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson). After a difficult job in London, the team is ordered by their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) to cool their heels in Bruges. Very much out of their comfort zones, the men find themselves drawn into increasingly dangerous entanglements with locals, tourists, and a film shoot. Soon, their perspectives on life and death are violently skewed.
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Film Facts
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Official Site: http://www.filminfocus.com/inbruges/
UK Release Date: 18th April 2008
Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Cast: Colin Farrell (’Ray’), Brendan Gleeson (’Ken’), Ralph Fiennes (’Harry’), Clémence Poésy (’Chloë’)
UK Distributor: Universal Pictures International UK
Certificate: 18
Run-time: 107 mins
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Video on Real.com
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Trailer:
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