In association with

In Bruges [2008]
from Universal Pictures UK
starring Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson
directed by Martin McDonagh

Features:

• PAL

Editorial Review:

The considerable pleasures of In Bruges begin with its title, which suggests a glumly self-important art film but actually fits a rattling-good tale of two Irish gangsters "keepin' a low profile" after a murder gone messily wrong. Bruges, the best-preserved medieval town in Belgium, is where the bearlike veteran Ken (Brendan Gleeson) and newbie triggerman Ray (Colin Farrell) have been ordered by their London boss to hole up for two weeks. As the sly narrative unfolds like a paper flower in water, "in Bruges" also becomes a state of mind, a suspended moment amid centuries-old towers and bridges and canals when even thuggish lives might experience a change in direction. And throughout, the viewer has ample opportunity to consider whose pronunciation of "Bruges" is more endearing, Gleeson's or Farrell's. The movie marks the feature writing-directing debut of playwright Martin McDonagh, whose droll meditation on sudden mortality, Six Shooter, copped the 2005 Oscar for best live-action short. Although McDonagh clearly relishes the musicality of his boyos' brogue and has written them plenty of entertaining dialogue, In Bruges is no stageplay disguised as a film. The script is deceptively casual, allowing for digressions on the newly united and briskly thriving Europe, and annexing passers-by as characters who have a way of circling back into the story with unanticipatable consequences. That includes a film crew--shooting a movie featuring, to Ray's fascination, "a midget" (Jordan Prentice)--and a fetching blond production assistant (Clémence Poésy) whose job description keeps evolving. There's one other key figure: Harry, the Cockney gang boss whose omnipotence remains unquestioned as long as he remains offscreen, back in England, as if floating in an early Harold Pinter play. Harry has reasons inextricably tender and perverse for selecting Bruges as his hirelings' destination, and eventually he emerges from the aether to express them--first as a garrulous telephone voice and then in the volatile form of Ralph Fiennes. By that point the charmed moment of suspension, already shaken by several eruptions of violence, is pretty well doomed. But In Bruges continues to surprise and satisfy right up to the end. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

• Good fun must watch!!
  This film is an excellent black comedy, a total roller coaster of emotion, side splittingly funny one second shocking the next. The characters are likeable bad guys with personal issues.
  I'd highly recommend this film to any one who wants a change from a serious action film and just wants to while away some time. Some scenes are very graphic but combined with the humour makes it hard to decide wether to laugh or cry.
  If I was to some sum up the film in one word it would have to be 'Random'. more info

• Actually made me want to go there.
  Think this may be in my Favourite film category.
  Darkly comedic, thought provoking, beautifully shot, surealy romantic.
  Probably wouldnt suit Daily Mail readers though ... (Yet another reason to like it)!

• I love midgets
  This is the best film I've seen this year. I don't usually rate Colin Farrell but he's really good at this. If you like a bit of black comedy then you'll love this.

• best film of 2008
  In a year or hype and tripe at the cinema when all the sequels failed to sparkle and originality seemed dead 'In Bruge' slipped into the multiplexes, under the radar, with very little fanfare and a trailer that did it little favours. By pure accident, with nothing else on at the time I wanted, I grudgingly handed over my cash and plodded to the smallest screen Odeon had to offer. I emerged elated. Not since taking a risk on Withnail and I had I had such fun at the cinema. This was a great discovery and I... more info

Similar Products:

More from Amazon