"In Bruges"

Seen on: March 1, 2008

The players: Director: Martin McDonagh, Writer: Martin McDonagh, Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Poesy, Jeremie Renier

Facts of interest: McDonagh won the Oscar for  his short film "Six Shooter."

The plot: Two Irish hit men are ordered to lie low in Bruges after a job gone awry.

Our quick thoughts: Oscar-winning director Martin McDonagh’s feature film debut “In Bruges” is a gloomy thriller that flawlessly combines hysterical comedy with a sincere story line. The plot centers on the strained relationship between Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), two Irish hit men who after screwing up on a job in London, are ordered to hole up in Bruges and await instructions from their employer (Ralph Fiennes). Easier said than done…

If you never heard of Bruges before, and decide to go see “In Bruges” (which you should), chances are you’ll be booking a flight to Belgium in no time. The little town has a lot of charms and an incredibly well-preserved medieval architecture, and McDonagh makes sure his audiences get to see a lot of what this wonderful place has to offer. And with Farrell and Gleeson strolling the streets and stumbling across several bizarre characters, the sightseeing couldn’t be more exciting.

“In Bruges” is also a hilarious mix of suspenseful action and dark comedy, topped off with a very humane story. Most of the story line dives into the intricate minds of its main characters, exploring their background stories, ambitions, skills and fears. Select flashbacks throughout the film also give viewers additional insight into how Ray and Ken ended up lying low in Bruges. McDonagh’s writing is solid and quite impressing, and his script delivers a couple of subtle reflections on killing people for money and having to deal with a guilty conscience. 

Farrell and Gleeson form a fabulous on-screen team. The script supplies them with a high dosage of well-timed, catchy, and often deliciously sarcastic dialogue, giving both actors enough material to provoke some memorable laughs. Farrell plays his role with tons of wit, hating everything in Bruges except the women maybe. Gleeson is the one helping the audience fall in love with the town, pushing Farrell’s character Ray to sightsee and enjoy the medieval flair. Ralph Fiennes and Jordan Prentice round out the A-list cast.

Freaky quote: "If I'd grown up on a farm and was retarded, Bruges might impress me, but I didn't, so it doesn't." – Colin Farrell

The final word: “In Bruges” is an exciting experience. It starts strong, speeds up fast and builds enormous suspense, and ends with a nail-biting bang. Now that McDonagh has scored a solid directorial debut, nothing stands in the way of a brilliant career. Bruges, here we come!