MOVIE REVIEW: IN BRUGES

02/07/08

SYNOPSIS: In Bruges was filmed on location; Bruges (pronounced “broozh”), the most well-preserved medieval city in the whole of Belgium , is a welcoming destination for travellers from all over the world. But for hit men Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson), it could be their final destination; a difficult job has resulted in the pair being ordered right before Christmas by their London boss Harry (two-time Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes) to go and cool their heels in the storybook Flemish city for a couple of weeks.

Very much out of place amidst the gothic architecture, canals, and cobbled streets, the two hit men fill their days living the lives of tourists. Ray, still haunted by the bloodshed in London , hates the place, while Ken, even as he keeps a fatherly eye on Ray’s often profanely funny exploits, finds his mind and soul being expanded by the beauty and serenity of the city.

But the longer they stay waiting for Harry’s call, the more surreal their experience becomes, as they find themselves in weird encounters with locals, tourists, violent medieval art, a dwarf American actor (Jordan Prentice) shooting a European art film, Dutch prostitutes, and a potential romance for Ray in the form of Chloë (Clémence Poésy), who may have some dark secrets of her own.

REVIEW: “If I'd grown up on a farm and was retarded, Bruges might impress me, but I didn't, so it doesn't.” I have to agree with you Ray (Colin Farrell) if you are talking about the movie . . . oh no, wait, you’re talking about the town. Actually Bruges, Belgium did impress me very much, whereas In Bruges the movie, eh, not so much. Bruges is a truly magical place keeping a firm grasp on history, culture, and preservation. This medieval town is very “Europe” and is the source of breathtaking cinematography for this film. You can either appreciate it or not. Ray doesn’t care much about it while Ken (Brendan Gleeson) seems to be right at home. A good chunk of this movie is spent establishing that fact which helps make the movie slow. The storyline or concept of this film is actually pretty good, but the development of the story or the way the story is told is a little dragged out to the point of almost being boring at certain moments. Luckily these moments are countered with some high intensity scenes that seem to pop up just to make sure you’re awake and paying attention. The second half of the movie will grab you completely though as the nice subtle twists and the sharp abrupt twists will keep you guessing.

These two characters are some of the most nonchalant killers I can recall; tormented but still nonchalant. Ray is tormented from his first and only assignment gone wrong while Ken is tormented by several years of experience. Their normalcy is what you will find yourself relating to. There is a human side to these guys. Their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) is a little more severe, however, as evident by the way he kills the phone in his office. The performances by these three along with the supporting cast are really quite commendable. Both Ralph and Brendan are admirable actors. I saw Colin like I’ve never seen him before. He was very emotional, fidgety, and unstable . . . okay, scratch fidgety and unstable because he usually is, so he was very emotional. His character struggled with the kind of guilt that a hired killer might have. The dialogue was just as sharp as the performances. It was witty, brief, and direct and the accents were pretty cool too. Sometimes, however, I had no idea what they were saying. You’ve got Irish, English, Eastern European, American, and of course you’re in Bruges, so yeah, open your ears wide. Oh and by the way, there’s a bit of racial slurs in the movie that I thought were mostly unnecessary. But hey, who am I to argue with Oscar winning Writer/Director Martin McDonagh who seems to know what he’s doing. Having won an Oscar for his first major work, a short film called Six Shooter, and now accomplishing this piece which even though might not be an Oscar contender, you can definitely see his potential. This is not your typical blockbuster action flick, but it is pretty good for an independent film. I would call this an independent, intellectual, comedic, action flick. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, the movie will make you laugh every now and then. So if this interests you, you can find it in Bruges.

Movie Review By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com

People Movie Review In Bruges

Alex Winters

100

I thought this film was everything true movie fans look for when they go to the theaters. I for one was tired of seeing the same old crap full of action and bad comedy. Two hit men are hiding out in Bruges (Belgium) after a job gone wrong. The entire film follows these two hit men, Raymond and Ken, as they experience all that Bruges has to offer. First of all, if you are a movie geek, you should have already seen this flick. If not, go as soon as possible. I'll say this to the average
person: if you see this movie and don't laugh once or get drawn into the plot
and likeable character development, I will be impressed. You would have to try your hardest not to burst out in laughter.

Colin Farrell plays Raymond, the ametuer hit man who screws up badly on a job. He has to pay the penalty with the highest price available: his life. I never really cared for Farrell much as an actor before this movie. I could never take him seriously. But he sure proved me wrong in this one. Whatever Raymond was supposed to be feeling, he was feeling. Not only this, but the audience felt with him, which doesn't happen all that often. I rate Farrell's performance a 9 out of 10, only because I felt at times he talked way too fast and sometimes couldn't understand him.

Brenden Gleeson plays Ken, the pro hit man who discovered Raymond, brought him in, and showed him the ropes. If you didn't like this character, you can get the hell out of my face. Honestly, out of all the movies I've seen (and you bet your ass there were a lot), Ken is one of the most likeable characters. It is almost an impossibility to dislike him. His love for scenery and beauty and polite manners make him a nice, sensitive guy. But when it comes to the job, stay out of the way because he is purely professional. I give Gleeson a 10 because it is not easy to make everyone like your character and actually care what happens to him.

Ralph Fiennes plays Harry Waters, the boss who gives Ray and Ken the orders. In my personal opinion this is the best character. When you hear this guy talk, you can't help but laugh your ass off. His extensive amount of cussing brings his character in strong. Though he is only in the last half of the movie, he grabs your attention the moment he arrives in Bruges and doesn't let go until the end credit sequence. This part was superbly played by Fiennes, I give him a 10+, if there's anything more, give it to him.

I saw this flick 3 times and I will buy it as soon as I see it on the shelves at Best Buy. As a huge movie geek, I highly recommend this film. I can almost promise you, you will not walk out of that theater disappointed.