 | In BrugesMonday 6th April, start time 8:30, Reel Cinema, Andover Release: UK 2008 (Cert 18) Director: Martin McDonagh Cast: Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes Brendan Gleeson, Ciaran Hinds, Review: Here Dramatist Martin McDonagh, who won an Oscar for his short film Six-Shooter, is perhaps better known for his plays, such The Lieutenant of Inishmore. True to his roots, McDonagh has delivered a script full of snappy and witty dialogue, plus the occasional profanity, giving us a tense, funny and very human pair of misfits, played by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. They’re misfits in that they’ve been sent by their boss to a place which one of them likes and one doesn’t. And they’re a pair in that they’re both hitmen squeezed into a Bed & Breakfast while they wait for further instructions. But In Bruges is more than a double-act. The city itself is a star, even though it’s supposed to be dull. There’s romantic sub-plot and a weird homage to Don’t Look Now. And there’s a lot of waiting around. But when the tension breaks, it breaks violently. McDonagh said in the New York Times that, although a black comedy, the film was about despair. Its publicity puts it up as a comic caper. Whatever it is, it’s hilarious. Farrell and Gleeson give us well-rounded characters we can care about. This is no standard film about assassins; it’s not even Tarantino with pathos. It is a black comedy about despair. And redemption. And self-examination. And all sorts of things. In Bruges is already well on its way to becoming a cult classic. It’s fun, and it’s not to be missed. |
Reviews & Comments Received After The PresentationDid you see the film? Write your review for the website and email it to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | IN BRUGES In Bruges is a black comedy, described by the Lovefilm website as “Pulp Fiction meets Father Ted”. The profane outweighs the sacred by a comfortable margin, for purposeful and good effect. It has ‘cult hit’ written all over it. Many of us who saw it as an Andover Film Club presentation will be keen to see it again. The story is simple enough. Two hitmen are sent to hide out in Bruges after a job has gone wrong. One of them likes the place – the other doesn’t. The botched job has left one of them in despair, while the other tries to help him out. They spend their time wandering about the old city, snapping at each other. The city itself is pivotal as the subject of running jokes and the backdrop for off-kilter observations. There are laugh-out loud gags about racist midgets and whether it is ever right to hit a woman; there’s even a sketch of fat American tourists. All politically incorrect, no doubt. (Shout hooray!) There are drugs. There’s a romantic sub-plot. And there’s a lot of waiting around. But when the tension breaks, it breaks violently. Blood and gunfire are mixed in with an almost unbelievable criminal’s code of honour. The depth of In Bruges is provided by a splendidly snappy script and perfectly weighted performances. Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell excel as the two misfits, giving us well-rounded people we can care about. But they’re not allowed to dominate. There are no weaknesses in the supporting cast. Even Ralph Fiennes manages to strike the right, cartoon-villain note, although out of his usual toff comfort zone. The pace of the film matches the action and all the characters seem to have a back story. Dramatist and director Martin McDonagh has given us a gem. The basic story is linear, but the film cross-references itself to keep us on our toes. This is one of the best films the Club has yet shown. Go and see it on the big screen before the telly snaps it up. And let’s all look forward to McDonagh’s next offering. Hans van Well |
In Bruges - 6th April
