In Bruges (2008); comedy action film review

Poster artwork for the action comedy film In Bruges.

Killing Time in Bruges by Linh

Writer and director Martin McDonagh’s first feature film In Bruges (pronounced ‘broozh’) is an usual and dark comic thriller set in the beautiful medieval city of Bruges in Belgium during Christmas time. McDonaugh’s script cleverly allows the picturesque city to draw out the personalities of the characters and also provides an eerie yet attractive backdrop for the action scenes. 

In Bruges revolves around two contract killers, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), who have been sent to Bruges following a murder gone awry in London. Ray was to have killed a paedophile priest, but also accidentally shot dead a young boy during the process.

Their unscrupulous but principled boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) has ordered them to cool their heels in Bruges until he contacts them at a later date. What follows is a blend of horrific violence, plenty of bloodshed, drug and alcohol consumption, excessive expletive-laced dialogue along with some intriguing characters.

BRUGES BUDDIES: Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell on the set of the film In Bruges. Image: Focus Features.

Colin Farrell is charmingly boyish as Ray, who whines about being stuck in Bruges when he would rather be in Dublin. His thick, dark eyebrows and Irish accent add to his character’s quirks, while he ponders his latest mistake as an assassin. Not even the fairy tale surroundings of Bruges can distract him from his silent pain of killing an innocent child.

Brendan Gleeson plays Ken, the more experienced killer and father figure to Ray, having been paired up with him for the last few contract killings. Gleeson gives Ken a brooding yet jolly persona and makes a huge personal sacrifice to save Ray’s life, whom he sees as having plenty of potential.

Although he appears in the last several scenes in the film (only heard on the phone with Ken for two thirds of the film at the start), Ralph Fiennes is hot-headed and foul-mouthed as the merciless and relentless boss, Harry. Almost all the swearing in the film comes from Harry, in both written and verbal form, yet Fiennes delivery is comical and nasty.

The city of Bruges has its own personality with a unique atmosphere and a hauntingly historic feel in all its tourist attractions including the museum, the art gallery, the cafe and even the fictional hotel where Ray and Ken stay has a Flemish flavour. The supporting cast is wonderful with each character bringing their own blend of humour, action and silliness to the film.

Clémence Poésy (who played Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) is sizzling as the drug dealer and Ray's love interest, Chloë; Jordan Prentice is an enigmatic and  prejudiced dwarf, Jimmy,  who appears in a movie being filmed in Bruges and Thekla Reuten is marvellous as the hotel owner, Marie, who holds her own as bullets are fired around her.

In Bruges is more innovative than Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and more intense than Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and stands out as a dazzling little cinematic gem which may not appeal to some but will delight many.

TRIGGER HAPPY: Harry (Ralph Fiennes) wants "a normal gun for a normal person" in the film In Bruges. Image: Focus Features.

Director: Martin McDonagh

Writer: Martin McDonagh (screenplay)

Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Jérémie Rénier, Jordan Prentice, Thekla Reuten, Erik Godon.

Producers: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin

Cinematographer: Eigil Bryld (Director of Photography)

Original Music Composer: Carter Burwell

Film Editor: Jon Gregory 

Production: Michael Carlin (Prodcution Designer), Chris Lowe (Art Director), Anna Lynch-Robinson (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Jany Temime

Running Time: 1 hour and 47 minutes.