In Bruges is one of the best surprises of the year so far. It’s hilarious and extremely well-written and acted by its expert cast. It works as a travelogue of a beautiful area of Belgium as well as a razor-sharp dark comedy with flashes of brutal violence and genuine pathos along the way. The three leads are particularly good and the supporting cast all does fine work. This is an amazing debut film from Irish Martin McDonaough. He is known for his stage plays and makes a terrific transition to the world of film. Collin Farrell in particular is surprisingly good and seems energized by the terrific screenplay. Brendan Gleeson (as the other hitman) is superb and gives the film an unexpected amount of real heart and pathos. They work for a mob boss named Harry played by Ralph Fiennes in one of his best performances in a long time.
In Bruges is about two hitmen (Gleeson and Farrell) hiding out in a beautiful, if sleepy little area ofBelgium called Bruges. They are sent there while waiting instructions from their boss Harry (Fiennes). The film takes some wonderfully bizarre and violent turns on the way to a memorable climax. The politically incorrect and vulgar humor plays nicely against the darker scenes in the film. In Bruges, in some ways, is the film Guy Ritchie has been trying to make over and over now for years, but keeps failing at. Perhaps because Ritchie is an expert at flashy camerawork while his storytelling skills and screenplays leave a lot to be desired. The extras highlight the location of Bruges nicely and there are several fun ones, including a gag reel and a boat ride through the city. It’s a well produced DVD and the film looks terrific, despite being made on a limited budget.
In Bruges is a wonderful film, easily one of the best of the year. The DVD is nifty and there are several intriguing features that make it a must-buy for fans of the film. In Bruges did fairly well in limited release during its theatrical one, but failed to expand and be seen by as many viewers as it so richly deserved. The acting and script are both top notch and its also one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long time. In Bruges is amongst the best films in its genre I’ve seen in a long time, and it comes highly recommended to all.
Film Grade: A-
Loading ...