Directed by:
Martin McDonaghScreenplay:
Martin McDonaghCinematography:
Eigil BryldComposer:
Carter BurwellCast:
Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Eric Godon, Jérémie Renier, Elizabeth Berrington, Željko Ivanek, Anna Madeley, Jordan Prentice (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
Hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) have been ordered to cool their heels in the storybook city of Bruges (it's in Belgium) after finishing a big job. But since hit men make the worst tourists, they soon find themselves in a life & death struggle of comic proportions against one very angry crime boss (Ralph Fiennes)! (Focus Features)
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Reviews (14)
For some heaven, for others hell, purgatory for all. An intimate existential gangster film about guilt, forgiveness and rectification, which evolves in a riveting way from a romantic tourist tour of Flemish beauties to a distorted Bosch canvas. Brendan Gleeson's heavy-duty fatherly performance, Colin Farrel's affectively childish creation, and the old-fashioned principle embodied by Ralph Fiennes – and the carefully constructed theatrical dialogues around them, a fantastically embodied image and an intense atmosphere that is closely related to the way filmmakers use Flemish Gothic. McDonagh shows off his dramatic talent (in places, it's more of a theatrical play in a riveting film version), but at the same time he doesn't hold back the magic of cinematic speech (brilliant work with narrative dynamics). As a result, modest In Bruges grows into a complex cinematic metaphor, the Bosch punchline of which is as beautiful as it is chilling. Names like Ritchie and Tarantino may be heard here, but that doesn't change the fact that McDonagh is unpretentious and thoughtfully his own. P.S. I don't know why, but somehow I've got a desire for this guy to make a Bond movie... perhaps with Colin.
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In his feature movie debut, McDonagh gives us exactly what a viewer well-versed in his shorts (or in his frequently staged plays) would expect. Just the restricted room of one train is replaced by the historical center of Bruges, plus a racist dwarf and the phenomenal Rúaidhrí Conroy is replaced by Colin Farrell. I would just like to know what the very numerous community of Vietnamese dwarves living in Canada would have said to this Irish rampaging in Belgium. They must be just as thrilled as our Prague Vietnamese community who were jubilant at the movie theater. And why not, indeed. Although there are no real negatives in this movie, his theatre plays seem to me to be just slightly better (especially “The Pillow Man", not to mention “The Lonesome West").
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At first glance, I can’t avoid the idea that this film doesn't belong in the major leagues. However, upon longer reflection, I am coming closer and closer to the conclusion that the script is simply unique and there are not many better films in the comedy-drama category in our cinemas these days. Either way, the Brits have once again pulled it off and clearly prove that their dry humour far exceeds the impotent American entertainment of recent years. A thoroughly intimate, human, beautifully told and, above all, superbly acted story about a group of strange individuals whose strange mindset is put to the ultimate test in the form of the strangest city in the world. It may sound contrived, but Martin McDonagh has created a truly hard-to-describe film whose final half hour I would not hesitate to place high in the hall of fame of world cinema. Perhaps the creators could have done without the conversation after the jump from the tower:)) P.S. For the second time I raise the rating to full, this film is really powerful...
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It reminded me a lot of The American with George Clooney in the lead role. It’s similarly expressionistic, austere, and cold. It’s a slow intimate film with a lot of dialogue, emphasising the beautiful location (this time Bruges, shown in all its glory). Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play interesting characters, and you want to see them on screen as much as possible, but in the end, Ralph Fiennes steals the film for himself. It may be slightly forced in an artsy way, where, unlike in The American or Drive, it tends to shout to the world, "look at how sophisticated and aware we are," but it still holds true that it is an unconventional and raw, genuine film that is entertaining and also sufficiently on par. You will certainly not forget it, it has many fantastic scenes and moments.
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Over the past 12 months, this was my strongest cinematic experience alongside the animated movie Persepolis, and is all the more pleasant because it was practically unexpected. A great screenplay, interesting casting, excellent performances, and very well-written dialogues, not only for its genre, where several excellent quotes appear that have the chance to gain cult status. It is a film that clearly distinguishes itself from the genre mainstream while still being appealing to the audience. Black humor, several exciting duels, and unexpected twists. This film was much more attractive to me than the much more discussed American Gangster. I have practically no objections to it. Overall impression: 100%. The purely European atmosphere of an ancient city full of monuments, weary tourists, and small-town mentality also plays a role.
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