In Bruges Reviewed

Something about hitmen makes them ideal cinematic fodder.  Between Martin Blank and Leon is a whole range of characters that choose to kill for money.  Sometimes there callous thugs who derive far too much please from there occupation or as the examples given above just treat it as nothing more than an occupation to rid the world of people that kind of deserved it anyway.

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play Ray and Ken a pair of hitmen that are sent to Bruges to go under the radar after completing a job in London.  While Ken is relishing the chance to absorb some culture Ray is keen return to civilisation and get out of “this shithole”.  This is no simple mismatch buddy comedy and certainly not the guff action flick I was expecting, but the blackest of black un-pc comedy dissertation on life seen for a while.

The pair of Irish assassins make for a great duo but the best humour is not about them constantly riffing one liners off each other.  The comedy comes from moments of incredible bad-taste, the few really taboo humour subjects left, race, homosexuality, disability, and Canadian’s all get there time in the spotlight.  But moments of slapstick and bad taste cover the drama that holds the film together, the humour keeps the film just light enough to avoid a deep trench of depression.

The simple story is supported by a note perfect performance from Brendan Gleeson.  Colin Farrell copes as best as can be expected but shines in a few scenes.  And when Ralph Fiennes’ Harry appears in the traditional “actor” role, as scene stealing bad guy, it is of little surprise when he gets to add his own touch of depth.  This isn’t a weightily acted think piece, rather it is a tightly scripted drama.

Director and Writer Martin McDonagh is better known in stage circles as a skilled playwright but here makes his feature debut.  With the exception of maybe one misstep he pulls it all together well getting what he needs from the cast and building up a moody atmosphere in Bruges.  Bruges itself is beautifully shot and despite Ray’s protest of a “fucking shithole” does look like a “fuckin’ fairy tale” as identified by Harry.

The film was a real surprise, terrible (defanged) trailers and not the most exciting of story setups had me expecting the worst.  The core drama and the course humour was far beyond what I had any right to expect.

8/10