In Bruges Reviews

• The Odd Couple

  
  By A1TJPMB7N776WS on 2008-02-16
  Martin Mc Donagh's "In Bruges" proves at least one thing once and for all: Colin Farrell is a thoughtful, emotionally open, soon to do very great things on the screen, actor...something that anyone who has seen "Tigerland" and "Home at the End of the World" already knows despite evidence to the contrary: "S.W.A.T," "Alexander," "Miami Vice," etc. etc.
  'If I'd grown up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't" says Ray (Farrell) to his fellow hit man, Ken (burly Brendan Gleeson): both sent to Bruges, Belgium to cool off after a bloody hit that unfortunately went woefully wrong.
  This is McDonagh's first film as Director/Writer and it is evident that he has a great eye for detail both in the sparkling, smart-*ss dialogue as well as with the stunning visual vocabulary of movies. Bruges is a beautiful city: ancient, redolent of the many lives lived there with its cobblestone streets, masonry buildings and outdoor plazas. As such, staid, old lady of Belgium Bruges stands in vivid contrast to the Irish duo of middle-aged, seen-it-all, supposedly Gay, interested in the sights and history of the city Ken and the emotionally over-wrought, painfully sensitive Ray: nervous, anxious, wanting to party, sporadically breaking out in sobs...literally an open emotional wound desperate for succor, blatantly remorseful, seeking redemption in all the wrong places.
  "In Bruges" roils over with goofy, silly dialogue (mostly spoken by Farrell who proves very adept at delivering it in droll, wry, ironic style) and profanity, violent bursts of gunfire, and jokes at the expense of dwarfs and Americans. Screenwriter McDonagh steers his odd couple Irishmen through a series of strange/odd situations in which questions of honor, friendship and mortality are mulled. The older Gleeson also proves to be the grounded one: good at what he does (that is kill people) and able, by his very presence to calm Ray down.
  Ralph Fiennes is also on hand here and plays Ray and Ken's boss, a mean-spirited bloke who talks in Michael Caine-Cockney cadences and arrives in Bruges to make sure that a hit, assigned to Ken is carried out without fail.
  "In Bruges" shares many of the surface traits of such films as Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction" but, though great as "Pulp Fiction" is, it doesn't have the heart and soul of Mc Donagh's "In Bruges": a film that satisfies the thriller/action genes of us all but also digs very deep below and reveals the true natures of its very conflicted, ultimately very human characters.
  
  
  

• Hell must be spending the rest of eternity in Bruges (ok, and yes, purgatory must be Tottenham)

  
  By A3NH7PYU4AD5GA on 2008-07-20
  Another delightful little British black gangster comedy. Think of: Sexy Biest (w Ben KIngsley). Snatch (w Brad Pitt, Benicio dT ...). Layer Cake (w David Craig). These guys have figured it out. Usually high class actors (here R.Fiennes, who is much more convincing as a bad guy than otherwise, and the quite capable Colin F., who had been a bit overrated for a while, but he really is quite talented).
  A basically simple plot (a hit man has screwed up, causing collateral damage; the boss needs to remove him, orders the partner to get it done, which turns out a problem...) runs into obstacles because the protagonists develop unexpected attitudes. Slapstick with guns.
  (Disclaimer: let me add that the headline is not my opinion, but a quote from Colin Farrell's character Ray, who thinks that Bruges is a s-hole; I fully disagree with that crass opinion, Bruges is as nice a place as you are likely to find in the whole of Belgium. On Tottenham I am not an expert.)
  
  
  
  

• Bullets Over Belgium

  
  By A18G7GG53G2X8A on 2008-02-09
  Much like a comedian, "In Bruges" is a film that uses humor to mask pain. It tells jokes and we laugh at them, but it's by no means a comedy; the story is deadly serious and at times downright shocking, and we're ultimately left in limbo about what we should and shouldn't find funny. This is actually one of the film's greatest strengths, simply because life itself is often hilarious in the face of tragedy. Writer and director Martin McDonagh seemed to know that all too well, which is good because it made for a unique and surprisingly engaging film. But be aware that not everyone will be this receptive: the subject matter is anything but light; most of the characters inhabit that massive gray area between decency and amorality; the ending is appropriate but definitely unconventional, leaving us unsure as to whether or not everyone got what they deserved.
  
  The film opens with two Irish hitmen--Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson)--arriving in Bruges, a Belgian city that's known for being the most preserved medieval village in all of Europe. They were sent there after a job in England went horribly wrong. I won't say what happened, but I will say that Ray is now an emotional wreck, unable to forgive himself for what he has done. Anyway, both men are told to wait in Bruges until further notice. In the meantime, they might as well enjoy a little sightseeing, and indeed, Bruges is a beautiful, picturesque place. While Ken is more than willing to take everything in, Ray behaves like an immature teenager, shooting his mouth off about how awful Bruges is. He even gets into hot water with tourists, especially the American ones--it seems he's still bitter over the Vietnam War and the murder of John Lennon.
  
  But it's much more likely that the past few days have taken their toll on him, with the incident in England weighing heavily on him. His only outlet is beer, cocaine, and Chloë (Clémence Poésy), a young woman working with a film crew. They share a fascinating if odd relationship, him being a hitman on the brink of suicide, her being a drug dealer and occasional robber. It's through her that Ray meets Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), a dwarf acting in the film being shot in Bruges. They, too, share an interesting relationship, not only because both are pent up fountains of anger, but also because of how they express that anger. Here's an example for Jimmy: there's a scene in which he's high on cocaine, ranting about how there will eventually be a race war between the blacks and the whites, and he feels that every ethnicity from the Vietnamese to the Pakistanis will side with the blacks. "What about black midgets and white midgets?" Ray asks. "Yes!" Jimmy emphatically responds. "Now there's a movie!" chuckles Ray, who quickly notices how offensive Ken is finding this conversation.
  
  After a few days, Ken in finally contacted by Harry (Ralph Fiennes), who gives specific instructions that I won't reveal. I will say Harry is probably the film's only evil character, despite the fact that he has strict principles about who and who not to kill. He apparently first saw Bruges when he was only seven years old, and he loved it so much that he wanted both Ken and Ray to experience it. Bruges is like a city in a fairy tale, Harry says, and woe to those who don't feel the same way--one gets the sense that, in his eyes, disliking Bruges is akin to disliking the air we breathe. As irrational as this line of thinking is, Ken goes along with everything Harry says and always obeys. But then the next hit is ordered, and at that point, Ken reconsiders the life he leads and why he leads it. This, in turn, forces Harry to come back to Bruges.
  
  All this paves the way for the final sequences, which are cleverly written to say the least. They serve as brutal counterparts to many earlier scenes, many of which have Ray and Ken discussing the existence of heaven, hell, and purgatory. They also wonder what it means to be a truly good person; Ken feels that he's generally a nice guy, yet he's well aware that he has killed people. He also asserts that, with one exception, his victims were all bad people who deserved to be killed. This begs the question: Where is the line drawn, since justified murder is still murder? Ken and Ray grapple with this, knowing perfectly well that their feelings could mean the difference between life and death.
  
  There's a scene that sees both men in the Basilica of the Holy Blood, which displays a fragment of cloth said to have been soaked with the blood of Jesus Christ. Ken wants to see this cloth while Ray is desperate to leave, and that's an interesting duality since both men are sinners and unsure about what the hereafter has in store for them. Ray believes that hell is an eternity in Bruges, which is the only reason why he doesn't want to die there. Ken eventually believes that his purpose is to send Ray off to find his own purpose. Both have a lot to pay for. Whether or not they actually do pay, I'm not sure; much like the film's overall sense of humor, the ending of "In Bruges" is ambivalent, leaving us in a thick fog. But at the very least, it's a lovely, almost magical fog, much like the one shrouding Bruges every evening.
  
  

• Purgatory? It's "Like Tottenham"

  
  By A37GRFP6VMUXKT on 2008-07-03
  In Bruges is a delightful little film from the UK featuring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson (you may recall him as Mad-Eye Moody from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Widescreen Edition)).
  
  By turns laugh out loud funny, poignant, and violent, 'In Bruges' has Farrell (Ray) and Gleeson (Ken) as two hit men sent to Bruges from England after Farrell botches a hit job. Ralph Fiennes (The Constant Gardener (Widescreen Edition)) makes a stellar late appearance as Harry, the boss who comes over from London to straighten the pair of them out. Nearly every character in the film, however brief their role, is either interesting to look at or listen to or think about or all three.
  
  Ray and Ken are an ill-matched pair - Ken decides to play the tourist and soaks up the canals, art and cathedral. Ray, on the other hand, never refers to Bruges without the adjective 'firking' in front of it (or something like that). Much of the film's humor comes from little bits of conversation and the contrast between the natures of the two killers. Ken takes Ray to the Basilica of the Holy Blood, but Ray cannot be bothered with kissing the vial. They see a triptych that includes purgatory, which Ray succinctly describes 'It's when you're not really [bad] and not really good - like Tottenham.'(This is a reference not to Tottenham the city, but rather to Tottenham the football team. Also, I think the triptych is Bosch's The Last Judgment').
  
  Turns out though that Ray and Ken quite like each other - it's not going too far to say they are even devoted friends. Out of this devotion comes the film's poignancy.
  
  The film has a fair amount of violence, mostly brief, but somewhat graphic and a surfeit of f-bombs and some c-bombs as well. The use of profane language as humor is harder to pull off now that profanity is so ordinary, but they manage it, sometimes by mixing it with proper and even delicate use of English, such as when Ken includes a reference to Harry's children in a profanity-laced riff, Harry demands that he retract the reference to his children and Ken quickly, almost shamefacedly agrees to the retraction, before resuming his choice references to parts of Harry's private anatomy.
  
  Mostly, 'In Bruges' is just very funny while being a little odd and a little touching. Highly recommended.
  
  
  

• drama does not equal comedy

  
  By A16XRPF40679KG on 2008-06-22
  This movie is advertised on the box as being a comedy. It is not a bit funny at all. The premise of gangsters shooting it out in the beautiful city of Bruges is what is supposed to be the comedic element I suppose. This may not be the fault of the people who made this movie however. It is clearly a dark drama that they tried to inject a little humor into but it's not a dark comedy at all. I guess a small boy getting his head blown off in a church is funny to a drug addict mentality; but for most of the people on this planet , this is not humorous. And even worse than this is that you have to sit through a 15 minute scene in the middle of the movie in which people do alot of drugs and say stupid rascist comments , and scenes in which people think about things on drugs which distort all reality anyways are always the ultimate bore. The acting however is first class in this movie and the characters are well developed. The box warns that this movie isn't P.C. and that's fine but if they had said this is a dark drama with a few comedic elements they would have been saying the truth. Still colin ferrel and the rest of the cast do make the characters engaging enough to forgive the weaker elements of the movie. I don't think this was sold to the theaters as a dark comedy so I can at least cut the filmaker some slack on that issue.
  He clearly has talent and he may have been trying to be hip by adding the endless boring drug taking and talking scene; but a good editor would have shortened that scene and focused more on the solid acting of gleeson and ferril as these two men bond together. And the best friends you have are not party friends, but are those who are bonded to you by your real experiences in life. Ironically the character that Brandon Gleeson plays understands this and this means the filmaker did too, he just got sidetracked by the now outdated idea that showing alot of drug usage makes a movie cool.
  
  
• Five stars from someone who usually dislikes Colin Farrell
  By AA6176V2HKG16 on 2008-06-06
  I don't usually care for Colin Farrell, but after seeing In Bruges I grudgingly have to admit that he's a really good actor and star. The movie is an amazing trip, a roller-coaster ride, by turns hilarious, thoughtful, sad, charming, and frightening. I don't want to say more or give the plot away, just be ready crazy ride.
  
  
• A pleasant surprise
  By AJKWF4W7QD4NS on 2008-06-24
  The undeniable charm of In Bruges lies in it's lead cast and the dynamite direction and script from Martin McDonagh; who weaves a tale of hitmen Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson). Ray is the rookie who recently made a horrible mistake during a hit, while Ken is the wily veteran who seeks to help the lad out any way they can. Under orders from their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes), they are holed up in Bruges; a small, tourist town in Belgium, which becomes quite a big factor as things develop and slowly spin out of control. If you've seen trailers or previews of In Bruges, you may think this is a straight out dark comedy. Well, while it certainly features it's share of comedic moments (mostly by Farrell), In Bruges is better described as being the well-paced and just plain refreshing gangster drama that deserves your attention. Farrell, Gleeson, and Fiennes are spectacular and magnetic, the dialogue is addictive, and the film's conclusion is just plain shattering. All in all, In Bruges more than deserves your attention, and even if you've never heard of the film and the description tickles your fancy, check this out.
  
  
• The Psychic Isolation of Two Hit Men in Bruges
  By A328S9RN3U5M68 on 2008-06-26
  Martin McDonagh makes an impressive writing and directing debut with the very fresh and entertaining and surprisingly well rounded film IN BRUGES. Though the basic storyline is rather simple, McDonagh knows how to keep it turning and twisting with generous amounts of humor as well as probing character development. He has assembled a cast of very fine actors, turned the cinematography of the gorgeous Belgian city of Bruges over to the capable creative hands of Eigil Bryld, and finished his project off with a fine musical score by the gifted Carter Burwell (with a nod to Schubert and others): the result is a beautiful little film with messages galore and always a visual treat to see repeatedly.
  
  Two hit men - Ken (Brendan Gleeson), a chubby, optimistic bloke who loves spending time with the sights of Bruges, and Ray (Colin Farrell), an emotionally distraught young man in the throes of guilt from a botched 'hit' that accidentally killed a young boy - have been sent by their 'boss' Harry (Ralph Fiennes) to 'lay low' after the botched murder of a priest (Ciarán Hinds). It is Christmas season and there are too few rooms available so Ken and Ray reluctantly share a tiny hotel room to await further orders from Harry. Ken falls in love with the beauty of the city of Bruges while Ray, ever anxious and distrustful, finds some solace in a film being shot about 'midgets' (Jérémie Renie) with behind the scenes girl Chloë (Clémence Poésy). How these two Irish guys make the most of their enforced isolation ultimately leads to the real reason for their assignment, a reason that includes a last 'hit' that sweeps the audience to a surprising ending.
  
  McDonagh writes very well, giving some of the best comedic lines to Farrell who proves himself a fine fit for this difficult role. Yes, it is another 'hit man film', but this one has the good fortune to deal with very real people, conflicted with their choice of 'occupation' and who are hungry to share their tenuous lives with good friends. Though there is considerable bloody derring-do, the film uses the chase and kill scenes to good advantage, allowing the audience to feel the human side of those whose job it is to 'off' others. Both Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are superb and their roles are enhanced by a choice selection of character actors who speed the plot along nicely. This is a very entertaining movie, one that can be appreciated on many levels, and one that suggests that Martin McDonagh has a solid future in cinema. Grady Harp, June 08
  
  
• Even Professional Murderers Have Their Feelings
  By A1TPW86OHXTXFC on 2008-06-29
  "Without dreaming of telling you what happens next, I will say it is not only ingenious but almost inevitable the way the screenplay brings all of these destinies together at one place and time. Along the way, there are times of great sadness and poignancy, times of abandon, times of goofiness, and that kind of humor that is really funny because it grows out of character and close observation. Farrell in particular hasn't been this good in a few films, perhaps because this time he's allowed to relax and be Irish." Roger Ebert
  
  'In Bruges' is one of those films that surprises you around every corner. The first impression I had was 'I have got to visit Bruges'- the film depicts such a beautiful, medieval city and every scene has a new vista. The city seems to play upon the characters- the towers, the museums, the churches, the pubs, the cobblestone square, and the canals all feed in to give us a view of the mindset of the two main characters. Brendan Gleeson, a big hunk of a man who has a face like a map of the world. Every feeling, every expression is shown on his face. Colin Farrell, is a true Irishman, Bruges to him is a 'shitpot'. He is not a sightseer, nothing nice about the place, just wants a beer in a pub and to move on. Ralph Fiennes as the boss back in London, heard on the phone and finally seen.
  
  These two men Gleeson and Farrell are Irish hitmen. The premise is pretty simple. They kill and one of them made a mistake and killed a child. They have been sent to Bruges to hide. The boss loves Bruges, and this is supposed to be a treat. Well, it is for Gleeson, he is the inveterate sightseer and does all the spots and enjoys it. Farrell, on the other hand hates Bruges- hia scene is beer and pubs and he wants to go home. He realizes some fun when he comes upon a movie being filmed. He makes friends with a young woman who supplies drugs to the crew, and a dwarf who is in a dream sequence. From there on the film moves from one surprise to the other. We finally get to see Fiennes and his surprising personality. That is all I am going to say.
  
  This is a sharply written and superbly acted film. As one of my other friend's review states- this is 'Pulp Fiction' with heart and soul.
  
  Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 06-29-08
  
  Colin Farrell: Living Dangerously
  
  A Dangerous Man
  
  
  
• Please Do Not Purchase This Film!
  By A3M0J0KWVQCIK7 on 2008-07-03
  After seeing the trailer for In Bruges, hearing some good reviews from friends, and reading some rather excellent reviews here on Amazon, I thought this film would be a sure thing. It made me a bit uneasy that Colin Farrell was in it, because I have never enjoyed his work in anything ever, but I figured I would give it a shot.
  
  Please do not purchase this film. Not only did I not laugh one single time, I didn't even crack a smile. I honestly had no idea what I was supposed to find funny in this picture. Is it that a child gets shot in the head or the endless amount of midget jokes or maybe it's that Colin Farrell's acting talent is equal to that of a burlap sack filled with rusty doorknobs.
  
  I have never written a review for anything before here on Amazon, but this movie was so terrible that I feel obligated to.
  
  
  
  
• Not a comedy. Not for me.
  By A28OB1QLXN5BM6 on 2008-07-06
  In Bruges was just not my cup of tea. To be fair, I will say right up front that my husband loved it. However, this movie did not appeal to me in the least.
  
  First of all, this film is in NO WAY a comedy, not even a dark comedy. It is a very dark drama that has some admittedly funny moments. But advertising it as a comedy misleads the audience.
  
  In Bruges details the odd morality and sense of right and wrong held by a group of hit men. When one of the group accidentally kills a small child, the boss sends him and his partner to the lovely, historical city of Bruges for a two week cooling off. The movie centers around the two hit men on vacation, and how they spend their time while waiting to hear from their boss. When the bossed finally makes contact, you get the ending you expect from the beginning.
  
  My issues with In Bruges stem from the gratuitous, horrific violence of this film. Yes, yes, it is about hit men, but I do not ever need to see a child being shot in the head. It was completely unnecessary, and the information could have been conveyed in a number of different ways. Clearly the director was going for shock value. The movie was also full of drugs, stupid racist comments, and plenty of f-bombs. While bad language does not normally offend me, I do prefer that it not be every other word. Again, shock value.
  
  Overall, the acting in this film was very well done. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson both do an excellent job in their roles, and are thoroughly believable. Their friendship is actually quite touching. Bruges itself is charming - a lovely backdrop for a film.
  
  In Bruges has been compared to Pulp Fiction. However, I did not care for that film, either. I want to be entertained when I watch movie, and I do feel this film could have been extremely entraining. There IS a good story here. It is just not carried out well, IMHO.
  
  
  
• I'll Be Quoting This Movie for Years
  By AL9HZLZT4X1KL on 2008-02-19
  This film is quotable in the model of The Princess Bride, with one memorable line after another.
  
  Ken and Ray are hit men for a powerful criminal figure, Harry. Ken (Brendan Gleeson) is a kindly older gentleman while Ray (Colin Farrell) is a brash young man anxious to live all of life this minute. After a botched hit in London, Harry (Ralph Fiennes) sends the two to the town of Bruges, Belgium. For Ray, this is the worst spot on earth:
  
  "If I'd grown up on a farm and was retarded, Bruges might impress me, but I didn't, so it doesn't."
  
  So while Ken tries to get Ray interested in sightseeing, ancient canals, historic cathedrals, and architecture, Ray is more interested in movie being filmed on location which features a midget and a beautiful blond. The idea of keeping a low profile seems to escape the younger killer and keeping control over his partner is daunting for the aging killer.
  
  This movie masks the underlying tragic story with hilarious comedy and the craftsmanship to give opposing emotions like that is masterful. All the way through everything bad that can happen does, stacking the tension like a playing card castle. You'll love Ken from the beginning and grow to love Ray by the end. And at the ending, right at that final scene you'll realize that the filmmaker, Martin McDonagh wrote and directed a perfect concluding sequence. If you ask me, it couldn't have ended any other way and been convincing.
  
  I can't write anymore without giving something away. Go see it, it'll make you happy and sad.
  
  - CV Rick, February 2008
  
  
• What hit-men do on vacation?
  By A126KX6FVI4T66 on 2008-06-11
  See the sights, pick up girls, get in fights and kill each the other?
  Sort of a sad slow waltz of a movie that feels more like Austria
  than Belgium? Writer seems to have a thing against Americans,
  with a scene with three fat Americans and later an American midget.
  A gun from a friend of Harry's... with a silencer, but Ray wants to kill himself because of killing a little boy while hitting a priest.
  Some crazy fellers here in Bruges can't get even killing straight.
  Harry says:"Don't be such a poof". Gets pretty grim toward the end with
  blood and chase and all.
  
  
• Disappointing, awful... with misleading packaging and advertising.
  By A2SA7G6NCIUJ6O on 2008-07-22
  If you go by the DVD packaging, or what a few of the 5-star reviewers have said about it, you'd assume that "In Bruges" is a slap-stick, hyperkinetic, gangster comedy in the tradition of Guy Ritchie films. This assessment couldn't be more misleading; "In Bruges" is a sluggishly paced, pensive, and largely quiet film full of long, slow wide angle takes, needlessly offensive dialog, and barely any comedy and action. Of the "thrilling chases" advertised, there is only one very poorly shot, very brief, and very poorly sequenced chase scene; similarly, there is one tired and particularly laborious shootout that drags on interminably.
  
  Misleading packaging aside, this film is for folks who thought "Snatch" or "Lock, Stock" were about crass, bumbling, tough British gangsters who speak in near-impenetrably slanged cockney and are involved in an array of over-the-top schemes with unbelievably eccentric people, all of whom have crossed and will ultimately reckon with an entertainingly menacing, irredeemably bad guy. Certainly, the Ritchie films are about these things, and certainly "In Bruges" has a few of these elements (near-impenetrable cockney; crass, bumbling gangsters; pretty heroin dealers and a prostitute hiring/coke snorting midget for eccentric friends; and a weakly nasty, temperamental bad guy), but in "In Bruges" they're just window dressings, signifiers telling chiefly American audience members: "I kind of look and sound like those clever and funny Guy Ritchie films! I must just as clever and funny!" In truth, "In Bruges" lacks the smart language play that Ritchie's first films display, it isn't at all as tightly plotted nor as well scripted and fast paced, plot elements are clumsily forced to advance the story, and with the exception of Colin Farrell's grief over his mistaken slaying of a little boy, most of the actors are going through the motions, barely buying into their characters themselves. If you regard it as belonging to that context, the film's a failure; if you can remove it from that context and just watch it for what it is, it's still pretty awful.
  
  If you're looking for a lazily realized British gangster film that's slow paced, poorly shot, and barely a comedy, this one's for you. If you're looking for a smart, fun, taut caper or heist movie, look elsewhere.
  
  
• It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's f***ing thing?- Harry
  By A37E6RW5BUX4U0 on 2008-08-26
  Two hit men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are on a sort of makeshift holiday in Bruges, Belgium after a hit gone wrong. While awaiting word from their boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes), Ken is interested in sightseeing and the history of the place, while Ray couldn't be more unimpressed and can't wait to escape.
  
  After hearing so many wonderful things about this film I was absolutely prepared to be let down. Movies rarely live up to the hype for me, but I am happy to say this one did and then some.
  
  In Bruges had me laughing out loud, hard and repeatedly, as the political incorrectness and the way Ray and Ken play off each other is hilarious. It had me sobbing big ugly girly tears as the emotion that pours from Ray, his guilt, his sadness, is absolutely palpable and heartbreaking. This movie had me gasping at the violence, on the edge of my seat and on an emotional roller coaster from one minute to the next. It was great.
  
  The performances are grand by all three main characters and the supporting cast lends equally wonderful and interesting performances. I found this to be a multi-dimensional and complex film filled with irony, humor, action and sadness. I was really stunned at the power behind Colin Farrell's performance. He goes from a sort of spazzy, funny, slightly inept and combustible sidekick to a sensitive, deeply tortured soul in about 2 seconds and every facet of his character is believable and brilliant.
  
  In Bruges is one of those quotable films with a billion awesome one-liners and moments. This is easily one of my favorite movies this year and definitely upon my list of all time favorites. I loved every fricken minute of it.
  
  5+ stars
  
  Cherise Everhard, August 2008
  
  
• One Strange, Quirky Movie That Kept Me Laughing!!
  By A3AOKQCH0YBZDS on 2008-08-31
  Just watched this last night on dvd.... I enjoyed this artsy, quirky film immensely and enjoyed that it kept me laughing at unexpected moments with its dark humor! The acting, storyline and the dark comedy on the whole makes "In Bruges" an excellent movie to watch...
  
  Must say that "In Bruges" is also a refreshing change of pace in terms of movies that are the usual slapstick comedies that get old to watch after a while!
  
  
• To the point
  By A2PA9856GZF3YO on 2008-09-19
  This isn't a movie for everyone. Anyone that is picking this up based on the blurbs that it is a comedy might want to pause. It is in fact a comedy...a dark comedy and that isn't for everyone. So don't watch it thinking it's a movie Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell could have been in. It's not that. It's violent. It's fun. It has a good story. And....it is very funny in a dark way.
  
  
• "Maybe that's what hell is, an entire eternity spent In Bruges."
  By A3RBNLTA0UUFEZ on 2008-03-25
  
  After a contract killing goes disastrously wrong, two hitmen are told by their boss, the foul-mouthed Harry, to hide out in Bruges. So they head for Bruges, even though they have no idea why they have been sent there, or even where Bruges is. It's in Belgium. In Bruges, the two hitmen are forced to come to terms with their own inner demons, and they are doomed to face the consequences of their actions.
  
  It is easy to spot that Martin McDonagh, the writer and director of In Bruges, is heavily influenced by Quentin Tarantino. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is the type of movie Tarantino would have made, had he been born in Dublin and not Knoxville, Tennessee. Every Tarantino trademark, from the Mexican standoff to the retrospective storytelling, is brilliantly executed in this film. In addition, the use of piquant and pervading dialogue to build McDonagh's characters and drive the narrative is also superbly executed. Tarantino would be proud. However, this film is not just another Quentin Tarantino knockoff by a British director. Apart from the obvious nods to Tarantino, there are other elements that make this an interesting and distinctly entertaining film. The film is shot on location in Bruges, a small, picturesque town in Belgium, of which most people probably have never heard. Bruges is portrayed as a town steeped in history and religious lore. And, despite Farrell's character, Ray, saying it is a "s******e" at every possible opportunity, Bruges looks quite exquisite on the big screen. If it is to be the last place you see before you die, it is definitely a beautiful place to go.
  
  Another key ingredient of this exemplary film is the tour de force performances by the three leads and supporting cast. Colin Farrell, in my opinion, has never really lived up to his early promise. Farrell has had more misses than hits, but his performance in In Bruges shows that he has impeccable comic timing and can also deliver a performance that is, at the same time, both subtle and poignant. Gleason is superb, as usual, as the older and wiser hitman, who cannot bring himself to punish Farrell's character for his gruesome mistake. And, finally, Ralph Fiennes drops the repressed upper-class-Englishman guise that he usually adopts and plays the frenetic, foul-mouthed gangster with gusto.
  
  In Bruges does get very dark at times, for a film that is billed as a comedy; thus, some viewers will be put off. But, I believe its propensity to shock you one minute and make you laugh the next is one of the film's strongest qualities. Although the writer-director was born in London, it is obvious that there are many strong Irish influences in his life. And, these Irish influences are very evident in his writing.
  
  In Bruges, is a darkly comic film, with lashings of Catholic guilt throughout. Its strength lies in its outstanding characterizations and its ultra-sharp dialogue. In Bruges is an example of screenwriting at its finest and the film is destined to become a classic. Even better still, it is a first-rate advertisement for the city of Bruges. And, after watching the film, I know I want to go there!
  
  
  
• Excellent movie
  By A11BQXTMP37M2S on 2008-04-30
  I won't go into a lot of detail about the plot, other reviewers have done that very well. I wasn't sure what to expect when I went to see this in the theatre. I found myself laughing at situations that normally are not considered funny. I missed some of the dialog as the accents are hard to follow, I might have to see it again. I highly recommend this movie, but I don't think it is for children.
  
  
• A Landmark Film
  By A3BHK3GOO0IRYD on 2008-06-26
  Saw this last night in the cinema and was left feeling invigorated by a renewed optimism in the film industry. It is still possible to come up with a great, original, exciting movie experience. This feels like an entirely new genre of film. Yes, it is a comedy - The blackest of black comedies. The dialogue is brilliant...stunning in some places and that's where the laughs come from. The setting becomes a character in itself and crucial to the juxtaposition of the brutal with the beautiful, the wise with the stupid, the boring with the exciting and the politically correct with the outrageously offensive. The brutal violent moments are there for a reason - to flesh out the morality play that is 'in play.' Best film I have seen in a long time. Amazing to watch. Interesting to think about. All about honour and morality amongst the most unlikely candidates. One dum-dum bullet short of a masterpiece.
  
  
• Absolutely brilliant dark dramedy
  By ACFQ438DXNFCH on 2008-07-04
  How to describe this deceptively simple film is the hardest place to begin. The plot's fairly simple: Two Irish hit-men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), are sent to Bruges (in Belgium) to wait out the consequences of an assassination gone terribly awry.
  
  The younger of the two, Ray, is bored and angtsy with the whole place. He's got a guilty conscience, having been the bloke who totally screwed up the hit. Ken, older and more sanguine about the whole matter, is the total opposite. He's enjoying the sights and quiet cadence of the city, seeing it as a brief respite from what he knows is a powder keg about to blow up in both their faces.
  
  Without giving away key plot points (all brilliantly revealed as the beginning of the end begins to play out toward its tragic conclusion), all I can say is WOW! Though I have never been a huge Colin Farrell fan, I found the actor to be an absolute revelation. The man can actually act, excellently conveying Ray's guilty conscience with a manic, twitchy angst that practically sets the screen on fire. When Ray's mistake is finally revealed in all its heartbreaking glory, Farrell manages to portray Ray's guilt and attempt at redemption in a scene that awes as well as chills the viewer. This is definitely an Oscar caliber performance, and one would hope the actor will continue to make such smart choices in future roles. The fact that Farrell gets to use his actual Irish accent is definitely a plus for the character. His Ray is a charming, annoying, childish, totally screwed up nut about to crack.
  
  Gleeson, too, is equally convincing in his quiet, calm portrayal. His Ken, world weary and tried of the whole business of death, nevertheless knows he's got to pull back his shoulders and soldier on--even if it means he has to face the bad end of a gun himself from mob boss, Harry (an excellent Ralph Feinnes channeling an evil more vicious than even Lord Voldemort). Harry's riff on the Uzi he is offered by a gun supplier is hilarious, as is Ray's in run with a racist dwarf, among others as he ambles through Bruges seeking a solace neither drink nor drugs, or even a pretty girl, can offer.
  
  The end for these three men is tragic, but totally fitting. I thoroughly enjoyed In Bruges and watched it several times just to soak in the early subtle clues leading up to Ray's mental meltdown. I admit that I had to watch the film with English subtitles on as I couldn't understand the actor's thick accents, but that wasn't any distraction or detriment.
  
  
  
  
• Weak Plot, Limited Vocabulary
  By A2GLBI48X37B5R on 2008-07-06
  This is one of the worst movies I have seen in a long time. The plot was disjointed, and the vocabulary boring. How many ways can you use "f***"? If you need to know, watch this movie. You'll find out how many ways in the first few minutes. These ways will be repeated ad nauseum throughout the movie. The actors were good at convincingly portraying mentally highly-unstable characters: an aging hitman whose prostitute wife was killed in a brothel, a young hitman who botched his first hit and can't get over it, an easy drug-dealing girl, and a bigoted druggie actor dwarf. Yes, it's as bizarre as it sounds. I'm giving this movie one star for the beautiful scenery of Bruges, known in the movie as "f***in' Bruges".
  
  
• From the ashes of disaster...
  By A144I2VJ9T0N26 on 2008-07-07
  I have to come down on the side of those who love this movie. Yes, there is violence, there is racism, there is drug use, and there is LANGUAGE, but honestly, these guys are not Smurfs. They're hired killers for cryin' out loud.
  
  Two assassins are hiding out in Bruges on the orders of of their boss. They've just killed a priest and quite by accident have also killed a young boy in prayer. That scene is brief and shocking, but is 100% required for the rest of the movie to make sense. So they're hiding in Bruges, waiting for the boss to call. And they start to wonder, why Bruges? The answer is surprising on a couple of levels and is typical of what makes this movie different from the rest.
  
  The older assassin is able to spend his time savoring Bruges and coming to love it. The younger one never will and seems to enjoy finding new ways to insult the medieval town.
  
  And then the call comes and then the boss comes and all hell breaks loose. But even then, the movie has style and a humanity that sets it apart from the rest. The ending can be described in one word - Fellini. Except it's completely understandable.
  
  As I said, I really liked this film. The language was appropriate to the characters, the violence was necessary for the story, and the comedy was dark and funny. But do keep in mind that it is British and British comedy is not for everyone. Fortunately, I was reared on it.
  
  
• not what it said it would be
  By A2SMV08YEHP2RX on 2008-07-29
  the discription for this movie made it sound like a funny/quirky action movie. it is slightly funny in small bits, in a morbid sort of way. and there is some action here and there, that is quite gory, but over all you are left feeling dissapointed and depressed. not what i'm looking for in a comedy, even a dark comedy.
  
  
• Mediocre movie with anything-but-mediocre cast
  By A3EOM309A1BVCB on 2008-08-27
  In the interest of full-disclosure: I had high expectations for this movie...and perhaps that's part of the reason it never lived up.
  
  The movie was relatively slow-moving, and the only character I really sympathized with was Brendan Gleeson. This is odd, considering the focal point of the story was Colin Farrel's character (who would show a glimmer of likeability only to resort back to his default, dolt-ish self).
  
  As far as the story goes, there IS a significant plot twist. However, a successful plot twist usually takes us in one direction before going into another unforseen direction. In this case, the movie just shuffles around (going nowhere) before taking on the "surprise" plot issue. Is it a "twist" when the plot was going nowhere before-hand? Also, it was less than surprising.
  
  On a positive note, the actors in this movie didn't disappoint. Working with limited material, it was interesting to see the depth (or lack thereof) they gave their characters.
  
  Also, it wasn't the worst movie I've seen this year. There were some redeeming aspects (namely Gleeson's character).
  
  Acting: A-
  Movie: B-/C+
  
  
• Interesting Film - NOT A COMEDY
  By A1M2IIGXF67BM8 on 2008-08-31
  Don't pay attention to any of the "canned" blurbs about this movie. It is about as far from a comedy as you can get. Its a very dark film with some comedic moments and a warped sense of irony. In the end, it tells an old story... bad people, no matter how charming or repentant, still are bad people.
  
  
• My God what a horrible movie
  By A2RELU94NM7RWI on 2008-09-03
  Get ready for the outrageous and unpredictable fun you will ever have in Bruges, the movie critics are calling "wildy entertaining"
  
  That's what it says on the back of the DVD case. I really can't imagine who would call this movie "fun". Depressing, pointless, poorly made, poorly written. All of those things. But "fun"?
  
  "A life-and-death struggle of comic proportions"... I can't imagine who would find this movie "comic". This is what I expected when I rented it. The trailers shown in the theater leads you to believe that it is a comedy. This impression results from the fact that they packed every funny scene in the movie into the trailer. The rest of the movie is bleak, terrible and pointless. If you like pointless Dutch films, then "In Bruges" is for you. For the rest of us, give this terrible film a pass. What a horrid waste of time. I want my 107 minutes back. The only reason I made it all the way through the film was that I was too stunned to believe that a film that was promoted as a comedy could really, really be this bleak and terrible.
  
  
  
  
  
• A Marriage of Opposites
  By A1IWWRZJOXOSYP on 2008-09-12
  "In Bruges" is playwright Martin McDonagh's first feature as a director. He had previously won an Oscar for the Best Live Action Short in 2005 for "Six Shooter." The film mixes comedy and blood in an oddball romp. Colin Farrell who is well known for films like Ask the Dust, Veronica Guerin & Phone Booth does a good job as the jumpy assassin Ray. Ray makes the mistake in a church hit of accidentally blowing the head off of a young boy. This causes he & his partner Ken to lay low for a while in Bruges, Belgium, a town where purportedly nothing ever happens. Ken is played by Brendan Gleeson who is perhaps best known as Evil Eye in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Widescreen Edition) as well as his appearance in Cold Mountain (Two-Disc Collector's Edition). The fact that Ken is gay and Ray is not does cause a bit of restlessness, particularly on the part of Ray who anxiously waits to go round the town where he bumps into a girl watching a film being made. Their boss Harry calls Ken and tells him to put a hit on Ray, which then has bad guy chasing bad guy. Ralph Fiennes who had Oscar nominations for "Schindler's List" & "The English Patient" shows up to finish the job Ken apparently couldn't do. Eric Godon makes a nice appearance as the lowlife Yuri. This film is pure black comedy with the emphasis on characterization and finding levels even within a criminal life. This classic marriage of opposites worked for me. Enjoy!
  
  
• A delightful treat...and a big role for the brilliant Brendon Gleeson!
  By A2R1HAXRNU0QX7 on 2008-03-01
  Before I start, let me just for a moment sing the praises of Brendan Gleeson, one of the stars of IN BRUGES. Is there a better character actor working in films today? This man elevates everything he's in. Right of the top of my head, I can remember his role as "Mad-Eye Moody" in HARRY POTTER, his touching turn as the father in 28 DAYS LATER and even his law-enforcement role in GANGS OF NEW YORK. Here is a man so at ease in what he does that he usually upstages "big" stars he shares screen time with.
  
  Finally, with IN BRUGES, he has a lead role. And thank goodness it's in a darn good movie. It's the story of two London hit-men who've been sent to the Belgian town of Bruges to lay low for awhile after a hit went wrong. Gleeson is the more experienced of the two, and he's delighted with the town...which he says is the oldest surviving medieval town in Belgium. It DOES seem to be charming and certainly I now would love to visit. Colin Farrell plays the younger of the pair...he's crawling out of his skin with boredom. He could care less for the charm of this town...he wants to go to the pub and drink and meet girls.
  
  Eventually, these two will draw some unwanted attention from their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) a psycho of the first order...but one with a lovely family and a strangely strong sense of honor.
  
  The first half of the film takes its time letting us get to know the two leads and to enjoy their banter. Eventually we discovered exactly what went wrong with their job, and the film takes on a deeper texture. It's not really a buddy film...it's a father/son film. Gleeson tries to help Farrell appreciate the world around him more, but he is also bemused by him. He's a gentle soul, who enjoys sightseeing, reading and a nice meal. He's courtly to the pregnant lady who runs the hotel. He's softspoken, and frankly it's hard at first to picture him as a killer. In fact, he seems a bit perplexed to be one.
  
  Farrell is the "hot head," but not in a clichéd way. He's a bit simple, but he's open to learning...a trait he didn't know he had. While he's got a quick tongue and quick fists...he's oddly gentle too. Gleeson sees a soft side in him that even Farrell doesn't acknowledge yet.
  
  There are lots of oddball characters populating the film, including an American dwarf in town to film a movie and an attractive young lady who makes her living robbing tourists...but falls pretty hard for Farrell.
  
  When really come to like these guys, so when Fiennes pops into the picture to really screw things up...our stress level goes up much more than it would in a conventional film of this ilk. While the "chase" scenes are pretty tame...they are also very intense and convincing.
  
  The joy of the film is in the two lead performances, and in their witty banter. Farrell hasn't been this good in a LONG time. He's still the "playboy" but in a convincing, almost shy way that makes him instantly likeable. Gleeson is terrific, as I've said, and he is quite up to the task of carrying the film. He has a great scene when he's on the phone with Fiennes and must convince his boss that he's chased Farrell out of the room...when Farrell was never there in the first place. It's funny but fraught with tension...because you can tell by Gleeson's manner that his quite concerned that he's going to raise murderous ire in the unhinged Harry.
  
  The dialogue is very clever...certainly it's very much a cinematic script, in that no one really talks this way. But everyone chews into their lines with such joy that the audience cannot help but be sucked in. The two leads are clearly enjoying playing off each other...Gleeson gives Farrell so much to work with that they both simply pop with energy.
  
  The film is a little slack in the middle. There's a scene when our two hit men spend time doing some drugs with the dwarf and some female friends that seems pointless and for once, the dialogue feels totally contrived.
  
  And the final scenes, while quite thrilling, require just one or two too many coincidences and chance encounters. That all the main characters suddenly find themselves together in the same spot at the same moment is just a little bit much. But fortunately, the film still plays out quite satisfactorily...and quite brutally.
  
  I had a great time with the unfortunately named IN BRUGES. I can't help but feel that a lot of folks will miss this delightful film because it's title is unpronounceable for so many. It's a shame, because this is easily the best film of early 2008.
  
  
  
• colin's brilliant acting
  By A3T1F3UBYR3P73 on 2008-06-09
  "in bruges" was a beautiful movie colin was absolutely magnificent i was nailed to my sit so many times that i even forgot to eat my snacks i brought in with me, awesome movie colin made me laugh for most of the movie, he was so brilliant in showing his emotion, he was so natural, so real that made me cry too, colin should get an oscar for his performance in " in bruges", it would be a shame if he didn't, I loved the movie so much, i saw it three times & I'm going to purchase the dvd when it's out, I'll give it 5 out 5 & I recommend every one to see it, you would love it, I promise you.
  
  

• Vantage Point (Single-Disc Edition)
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