Film Review - In Bruges

Colin Farrell Stars in Award Winning Brit Film From Martin McDonagh

Mar 4, 2009 Michelle Strozykowski

British gangsters Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) hole up in a Bruges hotel at Christmas, awaiting orders from their psychopathic boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes)

In Bruges is a quirky, black comedy, that appears to have come out of nowhere to win big awards and plaudits. The film was nominated for the best screenplay Oscar, narrowly missing out to Milk. It did win Colin Farrell a best actor golden globe though, and writer/director McDonagh was justly rewarded with best screenplay at the 2009 Baftas.

Brendan Gleeson at the Baftas

Gleeson accepted the Bafta for best screenplay, on behalf of Martin McDonagh. His speech succinctly summed up the cavalier spirit of the film when he said Martin asked him to:

“..thank, and apologise to, the people of Bruges, which he says isn't really a s**thole.”

That derogatory description was the over-riding opinion of Colin Farrell's character Ray, throughout the film. But despite the often venomous dialogue, In Bruges has surely done more to draw attention to Bruges medieval beauty than any English language film has done before. As a backdrop to a story about modern day gangsters, Bruges strikes a note of incongruous, yet perfectly cinematic style. In comparison to previous British gangster films, such as Get Carter, which wallowed in the symbolism of brutalist architecture, In Bruges' violence and profanities play out against a backdrop of exquisite charm. On the dvd extras of In Bruges, McDonagh even comments that the stunning location left him spoilt for choice when composing shots, with the city becoming a character of the film in its own right.

In Bruges: A Humourous and Clever Script

The setting is what makes the story and the oddball characters all the more absurd. Lying low after a botched job, hitmen Ken and Ray are sent to Bruges to await further orders from the boss man Harry. There they encounter an array of colourful characters including a beautiful drug dealer (Clemence Posey), a racist dwarf (Jordan Prentice) and an assortment of irksome tourists. The In Bruges dialogue is always sharp and dry witted, revealing a relationship between the two leads that is part sarcasm, part genuine affection. And although the strange encounters along the way appear random at first, McDonagh's clever script ties all the loose ends together in a stunning final denouement.

How Did In Bruges Get Made?

In Bruges is the epitome of dark comedy. Moments are laugh out loud hilarious, and yet violence is always simmering close to the surface, and political correctness is non-existent. How did this film get made? How did they get the funding for such an expletive-filled barrage of fun? Once upon a time, the only kind of British film capable of attracting funding was the super-arty (think Derek Jarman, Peter Greenaway) or the period drama (think Merchant Ivory). Now, it would seem, it's open season. has proved that audiences respond well to a film that doesn't pull its punches, and credits people with a modicum of intelligence. Yes, the film is punctuated by crude jibes and vulgarity, but it also has a deeper level to it. An element of drama that is far more psychologically complex than, say, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. This comes from the strong performances and the well drawn characters, which remain just on the right side of likable. Moments such as Ken's disgust at the racist dwarf's tirade, and Ray's quiet contemplation of his past mistakes, provide In Bruges with an unexpected populist appeal. Whatever they did to get this film made, whoever greased the cogs, let's just hope the wheel's keep turning. In Bruges may just be the start of a revolution in smart, funny British films.

In Bruges

• In Bruges
• Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes
• Directed by: Martin McDonagh
• Written by: Martin McDonagh
• Running Time: 107 minutes

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Brendan Gleeson