In Bruges (Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson)

Up until seeing In Bruges all I could really tell you about it was that a midget gets karate chopped in the trailer....and to be honest that was my sole reason for going to see it.

I realise thats probably not a selling point for everyone but by god did I laugh at that point in the trailer. I also realise that I was setting myself up for spending the next 107 minutes of my life regretting paying for the tickets in a karmic backlash for finding the karate chopping of a midget so ridiculously funny.

But no.

In Bruges is about hitmen Ken (Brendan Gleeson) and Ray (Colin Farrel), exiled to Bruges after a job goes horribly wrong. As they await a call from Harry (Ralph Fiennes) the pair take in some of the sights that Bruges has to offer. Ken, the older, more experienced of the two, finds beauty and tranquility in the Gothic city while Ray hates every moment of it. What follows is a story of two very different people's reaction to being the strangers in a strange place.

Movie wise In Bruges is a British black comedy. Some might find it a tad boring in places as it's one of those movies where for the most part nothing much happens other than following the two main characters from one random conversation to the next even more random conversation. Yet it's the conversations and interactions of the two main characters between each other and with other characters that make this a great movie, with Brendan Gleeson's father figure portrayal of Ken balancing out against Colin Farrell's brilliantly manic Ray. The storyline is pretty predictable but that doesn't take any enjoyment away from the movie itself.

I guess karma will have to find another way to get me back for taking enjoyment in the assaulting of midgets..sorry, dwarfs...no, midgets.

In Bruges is out now on general release

Trailer

pANDAS Radio · 23rd April 2008, 6:06pm

Ralph Feinnes spent the whole film pretending to be Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast.

Draven · 23rd April 2008, 6:10pm

I quite want to see this, I thought the trailer looked really good.

And yes it was the midget that caught my attention.

Semprini · 23rd April 2008, 9:29pm

I enjoyed this, although I saw the ending coming a mile off.

The first hour was utterly joyful though, especially the restaurant scene.

Foxglove · 23rd April 2008, 9:33pm

I really liked this film. I know people who have seen it who didn't find it funny at all which I found incredible. I laughed to the point of tears at some scenes and whilst the ending was a little obvious, it remained a very entertaining couple of hours. Just hearing Colin Farrell say midgets set me off.

mischief · 23rd April 2008, 9:33pm

I'm going to see this on Saturday so it better be good, but let's face it, even if it's not I'll get to swatch Big Colin for an hour or so.

Jaemi · 23rd April 2008, 9:36pm

Liked it.
Big RAY Feinnes was the weak link for me, strangely.

I'm Your God Now · 23rd April 2008, 9:37pm

Wouldn't mind seeing this, heard it's pretty decent. Might make one of those yearly trips to the cinema.

Jaemi · 23rd April 2008, 9:38pm

Before or after your yearly trip to the shower?

I'm Your God Now · 23rd April 2008, 9:39pm

I wouldn't really call that a trip, more of a daunting task.

Addy · 23rd April 2008, 9:39pm

Seeing this tomorrow with Rach, looking forward to it muchly

Foxglove · 23rd April 2008, 9:48pm

How can a film with a racist midget in it not be funny?

Jaemi · 23rd April 2008, 9:48pm

Dwarf.

mischief · 27th April 2008, 10:33am

Saw this last night & it didn't disappoint. The restaurant scene was brilliant & the midget, sorry, dwarf, stole the show. Really funny, with a few genuinely touching moments in it too.

Poor show from Big Colin not getting his kit off though.

Addy · 27th April 2008, 2:08pm

Amazing film, absolutely loved it. There's a surprisingly deep character story in there between Gleeson and Farrel too, I wasn't expecting something on quite that level, and it would have been so so easy to completely screw it up by merging that with very black humour - they didn't. It worked fantastically, and though the ending was a little cheap, it would have been hard for them to do anything else really.