In Bruges review

Ray: Do you think this is good? 
Ken: Do I think what's good? 
Ray: You know, going around in a boat, looking at stuff? 
Ken: Yes, I do. It's called sight-seeing. 

Director: Martin McDonagh

 In Bruges is one of those odd films where it’s hard to describe what genre it falls into. At times, it’s completely a hilarious tale of 2 hitmen struggling to lay low in the picturesque town of the title. At others, it’s a bleak drama about suicide and death. What really matters is that In Bruges manages to balance both of these excellently. It knows the right moment to make you laugh, and when it’s the correct time to make you think. That alone makes in Bruges a must watch film.

 The film stars Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell as ken and ray, 2 contrasting Irish hitmen. After a botched job, they’re ordered to lay low in the picturesque town of Bruges to await orders from mob boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes). While ken is happy to do as he’s told, ray is irritated by the town, citing that a trip the Bahamas would have been preferable. It has to be said that in Bruges is a hilarious, yet bitter tale. Its script is extremely funny, enhanced by Farrell’s and Gleeson’s perfect delivery and excellent chemistry. The laughs are strong and frequent, without resorting to flatulence humour like so many comedies do. Still, the humour is peculiar and quite dark; midgets on horse tranquilizers dating hookers being a good example of the oddities that are present throughout. The humour trails off during the second half of the film and is replaced by a more somber drama. This shift in tone fits with the events that have taken place, showing that in Bruges can be deadly serious when it wants to.

As a result of this, the story remains grounded throughout. Flashbacks fill in important plot points and rich dialogue between the leads develops their characters beyond the wisecracking killers they appear to be. Themes of existentialism run throughout the film, bringing each character full circle. This builds a strong crescendo that’s capped with a powerful, yet ambiguous ending. Bruges is represented and referenced as a fairytale town, through clever cinematography and dialogue. The film takes advantage of this with situations that have slightly unrealistic outcomes. While this does mesh well thematically, it’s hard to suspend disbelief when events occur that are simply absurd.

Regardless of these flaws, in Bruges is a very good film, and is consistently strong in almost all areas. Colin Farrell is at the top of his game here, a role in which he’s never been better, and never bettered since. Consisting of a core of strong drama with often hilarious dark humour, in Bruges is certainly a memorable, affecting film.

8