In Bruges
quality stuff - norm
With an average of 1.18 'fucks' per minute and a body count of six “In Bruges” is not for the faint hearted. Holed up in Bruges, Belgium after a job goes badly wrong, two hit men begin to differ on their views of life and death as they become used to their local surroundings. Bruges is a picturesque tourist trap built around the oldest and best maintained medieval city in Belgium. Director and screenwriter Martin McDonagh bleeds the setting and the material for all its worth and makes his feature film debut in superb style. He deserves all the credit in the world for breathing life into the stale story (of the moral questions faced by hit men) with crisp digital camera-work (that is surprisingly haunting), deep character development, and by creating a wonderful sense of place. The dialogue is super smart and wickedly un-PC while the comedy parts are as gut-busting as the crime thriller parts are suspenseful. Farrell defies all odds and manages to be as sympathetic in the dramatic parts as he is charmingly sarcastic in the comedic parts. Brendan Gleeson gives a fantastically nuanced portrayal as Farrell's mentor and friend. Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes channels the scary-as-hell energy he's used previously in "Schindler's List" and the recent "Harry Potter" films in a subversion that is a frighteningly fun to watch. The supporting cast is to die for, with Jordan Prentice spot-on as a coked-up dwarf actor shooting a grotesque art film on the streets of Bruges, and Clemence Poesy coyly seductive and unforgettable as Farrell's unlikely local love interest. That all said in the end In Bruges begins to meander down too many cobbled pathways and the credibility of the story is stretched thin. While not for everyone, those with the right frame of mind will enjoy its hilarious, contemplative, sometimes scathing, but shockingly hopeful view of the human condition. I appreciated the comedy and satire working hand in hand with the moral complexity of the characters' inner struggles. It makes for a very satisfying film, one that is much more than entertainment. When you consider what the budget was in comparison to many Hollywood films, "In Bruges" serves as a reminder that it is the script and the quality of the direction that makes a film.
Review published on the 31 July 2008 14:16
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A lot of hype - movielover
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Dark and delicious - paula galvin
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Hilariously good!! - dervalmccormack
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06 March 2009 15:14
Slightly off the wall but very enjoyable - Aine
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06 October 2008 16:53
Absolutely brilliant! - hellcat1983
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03 October 2008 12:06
This is ok - Locky
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01 October 2008 16:26
basically good but didnt enjoy it all the same - candyfloss
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19 September 2008 20:08
in bruges - jamie
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10 September 2008 14:31
Expected more - movielover
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10 September 2008 12:57
Disaster... - Will
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26 August 2008 18:11
Superb! - Sam
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26 August 2008 07:36
Not Peter Dinklage! - desert
That is not Peter Dinklage playing Jimmy, it's Jordan Prentice. MORE
21 August 2008 04:38
Lost opportunity - Disappointed McDonagh Fan
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19 August 2008 18:39
More than just a comedy. - simonconnolly
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fantastic - xxlynchyxx
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17 August 2008 20:48
Thoroughly enjoyed this. - Joel
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08 August 2008 02:29
Worth Another Look - HSP
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07 August 2008 13:09
Great Film - Jenny
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07 August 2008 12:31
Not the best... - sonia
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05 August 2008 14:21
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30 July 2008 14:55
unbelievable - stonecold
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29 July 2008 16:57
Great stuff - Cascarino
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29 July 2008 11:58
Where the F*** is Bruges - Paul
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23 July 2008 23:24
Colin Farrell !!! need I say more - Shazzer2411
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22 July 2008 23:23
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21 July 2008 20:12
Just NOT funny! - foxyred
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21 July 2008 00:02
Clever stuff - slick
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19 July 2008 04:17
Fun, fun, fun, wierd, weird, weird - foz_e_bear
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18 July 2008 15:38
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