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In Bruges , 2008

English, German

UK, USA

Rating:8.0
Plot

Playwright Martin McDonagh makes an impressive feature film debut as the writer and director of this tragicomedy as rich, dark, and complex as Belgian chocolate. The story unfolds over the course of a few days, as Irish hitmen Ken (the appealingly bear-like Brendon Gleeson) and Ray (Colin Farrell, in a loose and sympathetic performance) are ordered to lay low in the tourist-laden town of Bruges, Belgium, after a bungled shooting back home. Their only directive is to stay grounded and wait for further orders from crime boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes, gleefully playing evil), but both underlings--nervous and delightfully talky--chafe with the waiting. The childlike Ray is inconsolably antsy and withdrawn, and after a time we learn that his restlessness is borne of something deeper and more disturbing than mere ADD. The more paternal and patient of the duo, Ken, takes the opportunity to enjoy Bruges's lush, buttressed beauty, but he, too, undergoes some soul-searching by movie's end.

The plot snakes cleverly (and at times touchingly) around flashbacks of the Dublin murder as the garrulous killers philosophize and interact with locals and tourists, including an acerbic American dwarf, the proprietress of the B&B, Dutch prostitutes, and a local enchantress. McDonagh's absurdist black humor asserts itself as hilarious dialogue and dreamlike visuals (supported by Carter Burwell's unsettling score) that shift seamlessly from sweet to grotesque, like a Grimm's fairytale come to the big screen. McDonagh's command of the film medium puts to rest any reservations about playwrights-turned-directors. Viewers who can accept the somewhat contrived situation presented here will enjoy the crackling banter, vibrant performances, and beautiful scenery.

Details
Language: English, German
Country: UK, USA
Release date: 17 April 2008
Runtime: 107 min
Cast and Crew
Colin Farrell

as Ray

Brendan Gleeson

as Ken

Ralph Fiennes

as Harry Waters

Photos
In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges (2008)
Clips
In Bruges: Official Trailer(0: 0)
In Bruges: Official Trailer(0: 0)
In Bruges: Official Trailer(0: 0)
In Bruges: Official Trailer(0: 0)
Critics Reviews
USA Today

Sharply written, superbly acted, funny and even occasionally touching.

Salon.com

Dark, hilarious and oddly moving.

Users Reviews

I had no idea what I was watching - boyfriend brought it home and we put it on... Dark, European, hilarious and touching. There's hitmen, a midget (dwarf), Ralph Fiennes, and a quaint little place called Bruges (Br-oo-je). Lots of quick witted...

Defying previous stereotypes of the "hitman" genre, IN BRUGES gives us fully-rounded human beings wrestling with the themes of sin and redemption in a town which has all the medieval reminders of just how timeless is the struggle between Man's...

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