Review: In Bruges (2008) *** 1/2
Colin Farrell finds something to do In Bruges
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are a pair of British hit men who are, after a particularly messy job, sent off to the Belgian tourist mecca Bruges to cool down and await instructions for their next assignment. It sounds simple, but Farrell, the antsy troublemaker of this Laurel and Hardy duo, isn’t the type to be cooped up in a sleepy tourist town. When he discovers a film shoot with a beautiful woman (Clémence Poésy) a dwarf (Jordan Prentice) and a lot of drugs, things get interesting. When it turns out their boss (Ralph Fiennes) might have more in store for them than a simple cooling off, interesting becomes potentially deadly.
That’s the long and short of In Bruges. It’s an entertaining cinematic bauble that gets a lot of mileage out of the contrast between Gleeson and Farrell, and out of the contrast the two of them form with the sleepy town of Bruges itself which is, as Gleeson’s character explains, the most well preserved medieval town in the whole of Belgium.
Writer/director Martin McDonagh is a playwright by trade (The Pillowman, The Lieutenant of Inishmore) and he’s got a writer’s ear for amusing patter. There’s plenty of it here and it’s well delivered by Farrell and Gleeson. It’s even enough to carry the film for an admittedly funny 30 minutes or so, but then things begin to flag, waiting to be picked up again in the final act by a jolt of energy from Ralph Fiennes.
In Bruges is a dark comedy, yes, but it isn’t all fun and games. Complicating the simple set up, both characters are experiencing something like spiritual crises and there is a strong, dark undercurrent that isn’t immediately apparent in the film’s trailer. This isn’t the Guy Ritchie knock off the marketers would have you believe and the film is actually better for it.
Though the tone gives the movie a nice edge, don’t mistake seriousness for real meaning. Dark waters don’t necessarily run deep and In Bruges is largely a surface treatment. The characters are struggling with their place in the universe, but the audience isn’t required to join them unless they also kill people for a living. This is an entertainment, not a think piece.
Despite its shallowness, In Bruges still offers plenty to keep you interested. Farrell and Gleeson make a great team and it’s fun watching them interact. Farrell especially has a knack for the funny dialogue. He’s far more interesting as a funny-but-flawed character than he is in something humorless like Miami Vice. As the straight man, Gleeson is his perfect foil, registering equal measures of frustration and affection for his partner. It’s also fun to see Ralph Fiennes chewing some scenery as a wealthy, but strictly lower class gang boss. He brings a dangerous, unpredictable edge and he sparks the film back to life purely on the energy of his performance.
Also worth mentioning is the simple, mostly piano based score from the always reliable Carter Burwell (Fargo, Miller’s Crossing). Even during the film’s funnier moments, Burwell keeps the melancholy subtext close to the surface.
In the end, In Bruges is an amusing and diverting little morsel buoyed by some sharp dialogue and an engaging cast, but it’s not quite entertaining enough to justify its essential emptiness. Its one central joke (two loose canons trapped in a town that hasn’t changed for 900 years) wears thin for too long to earn much more than a passing grade despite the late inning rescue by Fiennes. However, fans of Farrell or of McDonagh’s plays will probably find a little something extra in the film and for them especially I recommend it despite some reservations. There’s always room for another decent buddy crime comedy. In Bruges certainly qualifies as that even if it doesn’t leave much of a mark.
In Bruges. UK 2008. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh. Cinematography by Eigil Bryld. Edited by Jon Gregory. Music score composed by Carter Burwell. Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Jérémie Rénier and Jordan Prentice. 1 hour 47 minutes. MPAA Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use. 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Filed under: Reviews
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Nice review. I had about the same impressions from my viewing, but yours generally make me feel more secure.
Interesting trivia - Burwell also scored NCfOM. I have no recollection of music. And it’s one of the few categories for which NC is not nominated.
He also did BTDKYD, which I remember being so-so.
No condemnation here, but it’s bound to come up: I think, in 2008, the preferred term for people with dwarfism is “dwarf.” I’m pretty sure this was set in stone a few years ago, but I’m not so sure anymore. Anyway, it’s a tricky line to toe…
They made a point of the correct term in In Bruges, but I chose to use the insensitive parlance of Farrell’s character. “They’re filmin’ midgets!”
I’m not hyper PC, but I’m not insensitive either. Perhaps I’ll change it.
There are fragments of a score in NCfOM, but they’re few and far between. The one that stands out after four viewings takes place during the dawn chase with the truck and the dog. It’s very subtle.
There was an interview somewhere about their controversial choice not to use a lot of music…this fact would be more interesting if I could actually remember where the interview was…
“an amusing and diverting little trifel….”
very very nice review here Craig, I was planning to see this film over the weekend, but I got sidetracked with that awful SPIDERWICK among other concerns, but the kids come first. LOL!…anyway, the above summary judgement is indeed what I speculated it would be. I will again come back to your review after I see it.
It’s a wonder you’re able to keep up with so many movies Sam, in light of the demands of a large family and work commitments.
A wonder indeed Sartre, especially since we both are full-time teachers. But when I “tied the knot” at age 40, (I am now 53–and we had five kids consecutively over 6 years) I never dispenced with my long-standing single-man habits, one of which is continuous film and opera going. So what did I do? I made my wife and kids big moviegoers, (LOL) although with much of the foreign-language films and documentraies I am on my own to see alone or with some male friends. I live only minutes from Manhattan, so theatres like the Film Forum, Angelika, Landmark, Lincoln Plaza Cinemas are all too tempting, but I have to juggle my weekly movie trips with staying home with the kids–it’s not easy. But in the end I am only one of dozens of movie maniacs here on Craig’s awesome site. Without sounding like a prude or anything, it does seem that the “cream of the crop” of Awards Daily are regular contributors here at Living in Cinema. Of course I love Awards Daily as well, and generally swing back and forth between the two.
Hope I haven’t bored anyone with my personal info, I won’t make a habit of it, I promise.
Thanks so much for your considerate words, sartre.
Craig, where do you see all your films? In LA?
Thanks Sam, it’s always interesting to learn something of the life behind a regular and much valued commenter’s life. And I must say, you seem to have created a very happy one for yourself.
Congratulations.
I look forward to hearing your response when you see it Sam. As you can see, I liked it, though I do wish it offered a little something more.
It sounds like you’ve managed to carve out a nice life for yourself, someething of the best of both the family worlds and the single worlds. I’m still learning to master the latter.
I’ve been really happy at the group of people who’ve so far found their way here from AD, and that includes you Sam. I’ve said it before but it bears repeating: You guys are making this a place I want to hang out.
Where I see movies depends on my mission, Sam. If I’m interested in a bargain and want to catch up on mainstream movies, I’ll just hit the nearby AMC multiplex. 6 bucks for movies before noon on weekends and with a little advanced planning I can usually manage 2 or 3 or more films with one ticket purchase.
If I’m serious about the movie at all I’ll go to Arclight in Hollywood. They have a great mix of mainstream stuff and more indie fare. They’re expensive, but they have reserved seating (a must for popular opening weekend movies) and an attached bar/restaurant. They even have a selection of 21+ screenings with no kids and you can bring in cocktails.
For truly arthouse and foriegn stuff, there is the old reliable Landmark chain with several locations and also a local family run chain called Laemmle’s. They’re my favorite on principle, but most of their theaters are a bit on the run-down side.
Thanks so much again Sartre for those wonderful words. I look forward to hearing about you too.
Craig, I know that 3 or 4 in-one-day routine well! LOL! In December, with the frantic release schedule, I find myself doing much the same. This works well for the commercial stuff, but with the art-house fare, of course it must be done (for the most part) piecemeal. That Landmark chain is the same one that runs the Manhattan theatre, I’m sure. Whenever I go there, I always fall victim to the Yonah Schimels right next to the theatre. They have homemade knishes of all varietes, some with roasted garlic, broccoli and cheese, spinach, etc. Worth a trip to the theatre for those alone!
Yes, this is a terrific group you have here. I am very thrilled to be part of it all Craig.
I like to support Laemmle’s with my ticket purchase so I don’t like to do the sneak-in routine with them. Also, I consider a ticket purchase a quiet vote for quality so if I’m genuinely looking forward to a movie, I will glady pay for it, then later sneak into other stuff I’d normally wait for the DVD.
The main Laemmle theater I frequent has Greenblatt’s Deli across the street and I can’t resist stopping in for a pastrami on rye and one of their homemade pickles. The new Landmark theater, as I’ve pointed out before and recently, is across from Apple Pan, a little hole in the wall diner built in the 40s with terrific pie and coffee.
These are the little things that make LA liveable.
“Hope I haven’t bored anyone with my personal info, I won’t make a habit of it, I promise.”
To the contrary, Sam, you’ve given me hope that my movie habits can remain when I have my own family. I think I’ll try your conversion strategy.
Craig and Sam, I have no problems sneaking in for a doubleheader at an AMC, but I’ve felt a little more guilty when sneaking at a Landmark. Really, though, they aren’t losing any “business” are they? Am I wrong in naively still thinking that theaters (at least chain theaters, including Landmark) only make money off of concessions? Well I sneak those in occasionally, too, but still…
Overall it seems like a victimless crime, but that’s certainly not true. Somehow I justify it by thinking, “It’s people like me that keep these places open.” Well, not really. Actually not at all.
I think I do draw the line at the single-owner independent theaters. Here in Minneapolis, the Riverview (since 1948), Heights (1926) and Parkway (1931) are pretty sacred places. Since the last two only have one screen anyway it’s not an option, but I don’t think I would do it if it were.
Oh, and Farrell’s line was among the funniest of the movie. I also like Gleeson comparing him to a “five year-old who’s just dropped his sweets on the floor.”
I don’t so much lose sleep at night worrying that Mark Cuban’s mattress made of money is fluffy and comfortable enough, but I want my tiny contribution registering in the box office figures of the movies I see there. Like I said, it’s a small vote for quality.
Had I gone to see Jumper and/or Definitely, Maybe this weekend, I likely would’ve purchased a ticket for No Country.
In Bruges had a number of little dialogue nuggets and they really made the film what it was.
Craig: Greenblat’s sounds terrific, over here with have teh similar Katz’s Deli on Houston Street, but I bet they make comparable corn beef and pastrami sandwiches. I try and avoid beef now though.
I agree with you Craig on the “sneaking in” routines. Only commercial films in multiplexes should be utilized for this, especially when time constraits (as opposed to cash constrictions) are part of the plan. I like to “support” the art house cinemas myself, and in fact (locally) I favored a run down old theatre that specializes in such fare to see both DIVING BELL and PERSEPOLIS over the loval multiplex that had them. I gave up better viewing conditions to support a theatre that I want to see remain in operation.
Daniel, I wish you luck on your future plans, I’m sure you will successfully be able to juggle everything to keep you seeing films, especially since you too have the places there at your fingertips. Thanks for your understanding.
Back to Craig, thanks again for the great review on IN BRUGES and the follow-up remarks. Must see it ASAP.
Sam, the classic Jewish deli is something most associated with New York, and rightfully so, but one of LA’s little secrets is that we have a handful of very good ones also.
I’ve had the pleasure of a corned beef reuben at Katz’s on Houston. There’s nothing quite like being able to sample your corned beef at the counter before they make your sandwich.
I could give up ground beef, but I don’t think I’ll ever shake good corned beef or pastrami or the occasional steak.
And Craig, lest we forget another famed Manhattan establishment I have frequented on a number of occasions, the one immortalized by Woody Allen himself, THE CARNEGIE DELI on Seventh Avenue west of Times Square. Now that one gives Katz’s real competition!
And I have no doubt about LA matching up quite well in this department.
Enjoyed the fine review Craig. Despite well articulated reservations you still gave it 3 1/2 stars? Based on your review and the trailer I’m filing this movie under DVD rental, maybe.
The rating system is a wishy washy beast that attempts to measure the unmeasurable.
3 1/2 out of 5 is above adequate but below a must-see. In this case there were a lot of things I really enjoyed about it, but it was missing a little something that might’ve pushed it into a solid 4.
On the other hand, it certainly never pissed me off or wore out its welcome, even if the energy sagged in the middle so to give it less doesn’t seem fair.
I liked it a notch more than you did, Craig, I think that one point that should be mentioned is McDonagh’s ability to come up with striking visuals, especialy considering that he’s starting as a writer. The close-ups of Ralph Fiennes in the sit-down scene between him and Gleeson are terrific, as are what happens to Gleeson later and the flashback to what Farrell did at the church after the priest - you know what I mean - and the snowy, dark climax. He’s not perfect (the nightmare imagery is kind of clumsy) but it shows that he has some promise.
Also, Craig, what delis would you recommend? I’ve been to Canter’s and that’s about it.
That sit down patio scene between Fiennes and Gleeson is the tops in my book, Jeff. Nobody’s mentioned the ending (not that last minute, but the last shots fired) - was no else disappointed by that wrapped gift?
Daniel, yes. When t Fiennes had his line earlier “If I did X, I’d have to do Y”, my thought was “I bet that’ll pay off later”.
I could definitely see myself catching this movie, very nice review Sir.
I am a fan of sorts of Irishman Farrell and Fiennes is usually pretty good.
It opens in SA in June, there usually isn’t much to see then, so I am in for this film.
You make a good point about the strong grasp of imagery Jeff, especially considering he’s a writer by trade as you say.
I love Canter’s corned beef reuben and their fruit salad is always really good. I wasn’t a huge fan of the matzo ball soup though. What I’ve had at Greenblatt’s is very good….especially the hot pastrami sandwich. I’ve heard good things about Nate and Al’s in Beverly Hills too but I’ve never been. Art’s in Studio City is just so-so.
Super cool new logo Craig. Love it. Look at you, professionally branded and all.
Now you can declare that you’re bona fide!
Thanks Sartre. It throws the whole masthead off balance, but I’ll work on that. We’ll be looking professional around here in no time.
Stay tuned for LiC hats and t-shirts! (I kid)
anyway craig. where is the in bruges is the first good film of the year type hype ??? well it is….
i caught i free screening of this uh whenever i did…..and i likely wouldn’t have seen it..if it wasn’t via free. and i was pretty impressed..
and i swear the guy that played the midget should get a best supprorting ocsar nom…
just remember you heard it from *me* first just like declaring bruges the first good film of 2008.
and yeah i’m taking a bow…*right now*
but i realize no one is gonna take me seriuosly/nor will it cut through the clutter if i declare bruges the first good film of the year….so how about if i label it the first good film of the…the century. ;)
seriously craig…i think that you’re an
inanimate object line is so ripe for the blog quoting. really it’s like it’s coin toss away or something……
and did i see a different film from evryone else…because no one mentions on the insanity of the collin f. i haven’t got laid in months type line.that poped up in the film. pretty intentionally funny(coming from someone with c.f.’s look) and damn unbelievable too. oh yeah….
and to cover my usual of covering ground that’s too lame /embarrassing/or considered to slight for others to mention…
i loved the bit with ‘the pro’ mentiong going to bruges(or wherever) to get a better price on her p***y.
*priceless*
now don’t beg/don’t beg i wouldn’t reduce your life to a coin toss/even if you paid me…. :)
it ’s weird i liked this and lars and real girl.and both of these aren’t doing better than the high 60’s at metacritic….
and i think this is better than “another decent buddy crime comedy” and i didn’t even think of this as buddy crime. do you really think the two male leads are really friends?? or do they just work together……
anyway craig, you may not feel this fim leaves much of mark. but what new film pre summer is ??? a probably not many. so yep it the first good film of year. sorry kids….you can’t stop what’s coming. *snicker/snicker*
and course keeing with my wimp ways. i liked the film alot more before the gun fire starting kicking in.
but i loved the not a 100% closure ending.
note collin f. wears the same shirt the entire movie.days past and he still wears the same shirt…..
i really like brugres. hell i’m surprised that i liked it. since i usually don’t give danm about wanting see a ‘buddy crime’ movie.but this was more than ok with me.this may be a ‘modest’ film in scope or whatever. but it worked for me. and exceed my expectations(which i guess going in/was just don’t suck/at least be ok..)
i think i’ll be buying the dvd….just to make a loop of the segemnt where ‘the pro’ says the ‘to get a better price for my p***y’ type line.
and i really want to females to start using that ‘your’re an inanimate’ line to guys !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks to free screening this was earliest i voted on imdb. i voted a day or so after and vote was something like #340-350.yikes…
also werd is that imdb recommends both last life in the universe and volver if you like in bruges(surprised that didn’t go with something more crime/boss stuff)
and i like both of those films too !!! :)
and did i mention i liked in brugres ? ;)
even liked collin f. yikes…. :)
and dont forgot go jordan prentice for supprting actor….:)
hmm you want to write this film off as slight/not leaving a mark……and well i get your point…
but in an atmosphere that put juno or made me think i was supposed to give a damn about american gangster to the top….
and don’t know whay everyone ios soooooooo danm glad to to write this film off as slight.
when we know alot of worse films will get hyped to death later in year and people will pretend their amazing.a ‘modest’ film that’s good deserevs a bit better than every reveiw ending in backhanded compliment…..
Glad you liked it Glimmer. I liked it ok, 3 1/2 stars is nothing to cry about, but I still think it felt kind of empty.
Best movie of the year so far? Well, it was pretty good, but so far the movie I’ve liked best is The Band’s Visit which I’m trying to write a review of right now.
I don’t think it’ll be among my top favorites by the end of the year, but it’s the best one so far, unless you count 4 Weeks 3 Months and 2 Days, but I saw that in 2007.
isn’t bands visit count as 2007 ???
same with 432 wasn’t that 2007 too ???
432 plays in area huh starting tomorrow so maybe by sunday….
and yes craig i’m trying to get the 4 weeks 3 months and 3 days refed as 432 bandwagon going.
thank you. :)
*ha ha* :)
Both opened in NY and LA last December for one week, but they aren’t receiving a wider release until now. I’m counting them as 2008 movies for now.
ah…. :)
I’m counting Band’s Visit and 432 as 2008, Glim. Only way it makes sense to me.
As for In Bruges, I liked this one although much of the plot rides on a number of contrived turns. I don’t want to spoil this for someone who hasn’t seen it so skip the rest of this paragraph if you’re still planning to (SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS) the Canadians having Farrell pulled from the train was hard to swallow. Had they stopped every train that day? Why stop at trains? How about blockading the roads too? And Farrell surviving multiple gunshots that are presumably dum-dum shells was equally ridiculous, only to have one of them actually do as it was intended and decapitate the dwarf? Come on. But actually running into the dwarf, who is inexplicably dressed as a schoolboy was really silly. It made ending come together all darkly happy and what not, but it was pretty ridiculous.
Otherwise though, I didn’t mind the contrivances THAT much. As glaring as they all were, the movie had an odd buoyancy to it that propelled me along. Farrell and Gleeson play off each other well, Clémence Poésy is far more beguiling here than she was in Potter 4, and Ralph Fiennes chews scenery with the best of them. A couple of times during his sit down with Gleeson he’s practically foaming at the mouth.
I also loved the odd, almost existential comedy in the first act where it’s just Gleeson and Farrell trying to find some common ground and mostly failing. It gave the movie an interesting tone and sets it apart from your standard hitman/mobster fare, reminding me slightly of last year’s You Kill Me.
And I’d agree with Jeff MCM that the visuals are well-done. Other than a slightly awkward chase sequence, the movie establishes the town well and sets up interesting visual frames for the characters.
I agree though that is a bit of a trifle. It did make me really curious to visit Bruges and it completely defeated most of my expectations, so there’s something in that. Plus, it’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed Colin Farrell in a role this much.
Agree with your all, Joel (except I put Band’s Visit back to ‘07). I didn’t think about the train happenings, but the ending really, really disappointed me. It almost ruined what was until that point a wholly unique dark comedy.
I try not to make too much of plot contrivances because hey, it’s a movie, but when they stand out so strongly that I’m noticing them as I’m watching the film, then either A) the movie isn’t really holding my attention or B) the contrivance is so bad that it’s killing my enjoyment.
I think in this case it was more A than B, but I still enjoyed the movie for what it was. Probably helped that my expectations from the trailer were completely different than what the movie offered and I really enjoyed the cast.
I’d mention though that usually, contrivances like that kill the movie for me. Sorry to hear that happened to you, Daniel.
Yeah I can usually forgive your B more than your A. In this case I think I had a C: I suspected a contrivance was coming and was depressingly affirmed when it did. However, I should say that it had enough going for it that I still enjoyed it and gave it a fairly good review. I was (or we are) just some of the few who felt it missed its chance to be a memorable favorite.