In Bruges review
posted on 24 June 2008
In Bruges features Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell as Ken and Ray, two killers for hire who are ordered by their ruthless boss (played to the hilt by a wily Ralph Fiennes) to lay low in Bruges, Belgium after they botch a job. Veteran hit-man Ken takes an immediate liking to Bruges while rookie Ray can't stand the place. Both men attempt to make the best of their situation, and before long, an obvious set of circumstances forces them to reevaluate what they're doing with their lives.
In Bruges has been drawing comparisons to Pulp Fiction and at a glance, it's easy to see why. Both pictures are populated by colorful characters, and in both stories, the focal point is a pair of wise cracking hit-men. The difference is, that in Pulp Fiction (one of the best films of the last twenty years) Quentin Tarantino paints a morality tale. His hit-men make certain choices, and those choices determine their fates. In Bruges' central characters are also imbedded in a morality tale of sorts, but writer/director Martin McDonagh gives these men a sympathetic quality. Jules and Vincent are likable but I wouldn't call them sympathetic. Ken and Ray by comparison appear to have remorse for their actions. And in fact, Ray commits an act that's so awful, it's almost too much for him to bear.
In Bruges is playful, but it's also incredibly viscous. Furthermore, it's anything but politically correct. It's also a very unpredictable film despite it's predictable set up. Why these men are shacking up in Bruges should come as no surprise to most viewers, but the majority of the events that make up the rest of the film are very unexpected. In Bruges has you believing it's going to go one way and then it goes in an entirely different direction. There's a playground scene in particular that is, all at once, tense and gut wrenching. In Bruges builds to an ambiguous climax that may frustrate some film goers. It isn't as "left field" as, say, No Country For Old Men, but it does sort of force the audience to come to their own conclusion, and that's one of the many joys of this funny, tragic, colorful movie.
Colin Farrell delivers his best work here. Ray has swagger and confidence, but he's also soft at the center. Farrell does a great job deftly displaying both sides of this tortured character. Brendan Gleeson is outstanding as wise veteran Ken, a man who believes loyalty comes above everything else. The rapport between Farrell and Gleeson is the key to the film's overall success, but there's also some great word play between Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes. And while we're on the topic of Fiennes, this is easily his most villainous turn since his startling work in Schindler's List. This guy simply oozes evil, but in a strange sick way, he also follows an honor code.
In Bruges is a terrific movie, but it definitely isn't the kind of flick that will play to the masses. It's violent, edgy, and somewhat twisted. Chances are, if you're a fan of Tarantino and David Mamet you'll probably warm up the mean spirited and heartfelt charms of this wonderfully written film.
