Film Review #1

In Bruges is a black comedy that allows the audience to approach serious issues like murder and prostitution with a smile. The film is so engrossing that it’s hard to believe that this is Martin McDonagh’s first full-length feature. Furthermore, the dialogue is so spot on that it needs to be noted that McDonagh also wrote the screenplay. The 2008 film stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes. As great as the film is it’s not surprising that Farrell nabbed the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy.

Let’s talk storyline- after all what is a good movie without a riveting plot? After an assassination gone terribly wrong Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson) are instructed to leave London.  Their boss Harry (Fiennes) sends them to Bruges where they are to remain until he calls them. Once in Bruges two things are obvious. Ken loves the place. Ray hates it. They take in the sights of the city while waiting for the call from Harry. When the call is finally received Ken is given a reluctant task: Kill Ray and get back to London. Ken refuses to cater to Harry’s request. Ken’s refusal sets off a series of events that can only be described as chaos: Harry flies to Bruges and the chase for Ray and Ken ensues! From the beginning to the end you can’t quite guess what it going to happen next. It kept my interest the entire time.

In my opinion, all of the key actors in the film give amazing performances. Farrell is perfect as the pessimistic hitman who hates everything about Bruges. Gleeson’s portrayal as an enthusiastic optimist perfectly balances Ray’s personality. Don’t believe me? Perhaps the 3 minute montage I created on YouTube will change your mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLVdCYxu9v0. Although we do not see much of Ralph Fiennes until the second-half of the film he certainly plays a memorable character. Harry is everything you would expect a brutal English gangster to be and then some. My expectations were more than fulfilled. The two minute trailer for this movie does not do it justice. 

I thought the composer of In Bruges did a wonderful job. The piano was perfect for those very dark moments in the film. The music combined with the quiet views of medieval Bruges at night was aesthetically pleasing. With the help of the night sky McDonagh successfully preserves the dark tone that hangs over the film. Whether it’s on the streets of Bruges or in a dimly lit church the absence of light makes for a compelling atmosphere. Narration is also used in the film. It’s quite effective in opening and closing Ray’s ‘story’ of Bruges.

If you were to ask me, “Why should I watch this film?” my selling point (hands down) would be the dialogue. The humorous one-liners are numerous and the banter between the two main characters is memorable- if not priceless. McDonagh carefully crafted a story that speaks about crime, violence, penance, guilt, retribution, family, art, and a host of other topics. The actors deliver every word, every line convincingly. I can promise the audience that you will be seeing a film that feels real and speaks to the human experience in several ways.

9 out of 10