In Bruges

Category: Drama  |  Tags: drama

posted by: Edan Matssob 96 days ago          

Ray, (COLIN FARRELL), and Ken, (BRENDAN GLEESON), are Irish hitmen who have just carried out an assignment in London where something’s gone wrong. Their boss, Harry (RALPH FIENNES) orders them to hide out in the beautiful Belgian city of Bruges. Ray is not at all impressed.

Ray meets Chloe, (CLEMENCE POESY), who seems to be working on a film being shot in the city, and she allows him to take her out to dinner. They also encounter Jimmy, (JORDAN PRENTICE), a dwarf actor working on the film.

Irish playwright Martin McDonagh directs his first screenplay with IN BRUGES and the influence seems to be one part Harold Pinter, one part David Mamet and one part Quentin Tarantino.

The film has the flimsiest of plots, and for quite a deal of the time the dialogue, though always amusing and pointedly non-PC, is quite desultory.

But somehow, despite the contrived conclusion, it all works marvellously, and that’s thanks to some terrific performances. COLIN FARRELL has never been better as the not-very-bright Ray. BRENDAN GLEESON exudes calm and determination as Ken, and RALPH FIENNES, who makes a belated but very engaging performance as their ruthless boss, Harry, is just great.

As the enigmatic Chloe, (CLEMENCE POESY) is splendid. Despite contrivances, the screenplay is quite cleverly put together, and though the film is pretty violent, it gets by on its witty dialogue.

As a bonus, the canal city of Bruges provides a timeless backdrop to this very contemporary yarn.