In Bruges
 |
Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clemence Poesy, Jordan Prentice.
Written and directed by Martin McDonagh.
Story: Hitmen hiding in Bruges.
Running Time: 1hr 47 minutes.
UK Certificate 18. |
In Bruges is why you read this site. Every now and then there's a cracker of a movie that you'd never
normally bother going to see because it looks low-rent and nobody's heard of it. This is the latest and you'd be well
advised to catch it.
I had no expectations for In Bruges - I knew little else but the fact that it starred Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson
(Wiglaf in Beowulf being his last outing). It didn't take long to become engaged though, with
the Odd Couple of hitmen taking to their enforced hiding in very different ways. Gleeson's father figure gives us a guided
tour of the quiet medieval town of Bruges, while Farrell shivers and moans, tagging along like a petulant schoolboy. The
rapport between the two is instant and charismatic, punctured as it is by Farrell's hilarious and typically Irish outbursts
to the passing characters. There's nothing quite like seeing a fat American breathlessly chasing Farrell around
the town square as he bobs and weaves, Prince Naseem-like, taunting all the way.
This black comedy runs all the way through the movie like a rich seam of gold, taking in a bolshy midget actor with some
very un-PC comments and higlighting in possibly the least politically correct joke told this year ... about Bruges.
When Ralph Fiennes turns up doing a very convincing impression of Ben Kingsley from
Sexy Beast (i.e. a scary nutcase), the movie takes another turn for the better and opens up yet further. I could have
watched these three for hours - it's easily Colin Farrell's finest hour - so it was almost a disappointment when it
ended. Look out for this director Martin McDonagh in future - his only other credit is the short movie Six Shooter that
won him the Oscar, and on the evidence of In Bruges, he has a great future ahead of him.
In Bruges is a delight. Dark and funny, it's the sleeper hit of the year so far.
I enjoyed this film: 5/5
I think the average moviegoer will enjoy it: 4/5
Testosterone Satisfaction Rating: 3/5 - British grittiness, shooting, violence,
blood, drugs and more Fs and Cs than you can count.
To enjoy this film you should: like black comedy and not be easily offended.
In Bruges was released in the UK on 18th April 2008.
|