In Bruges - Politically Incorrect -Bad Language - Loved it! (In Bruges (DVD))

Member Name: LAURALILIA

Product:	In Bruges (DVD)
Date:	12/03/09 (183 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Imaginative story, fantastic dialogue - will make you both laugh and cry !

Disadvantages: A bit of a dark film for some - will not cheer you up !

In Bruges

I had heard this film talked about plenty in the last few months, but haven't had a chance to rent it yet. Then it came on Sky Anytime and I got the chance to see what everyone was raving about...


I am a big fan of Pulp Fiction and Tarantino films and whilst the violence is not on this level, there are similarities with depicting atrocities against a background of quick witted dialogue and matter of fact delivery of lines. 'In Bruges' though does have a more European feeling to it and I think that the dialogue is more skilful.

***Main Cast***


Ray - Colin Farrell
Ken - Brendan Gleeson
Harry - Ralph Fiennes
Chloe - Clémence Poésy
Jimmy - Jordan Prentice
Marie - Thekla Reuten

The film runs for an all too quick 107 mins.


***What's it about?***


This film is truly unique - I can't say that I have ever watched anything like it - the writer has a superb imagination.

The film centres around two Irish assasins Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who have been sent to hide out in Bruges, after a hit went wrong. They are instructed to go to a hotel and wait there for further instructions. The elder of the two, is reasonable content to do this and take in a little of the local culture.

The younger (Colin Farrell) is not. He can't understand why they have to go go to this place and wants to return home to hide out until the dust settles.

Whilst they are in Bruges there are flashbacks to what went wrong with the job and we begin to understand a little more about what makes the men tick.


Whilst they are waiting they take in some sight seeing and and Ray (Colin Farrell) perks up a bit when he meets Chloe (Clémence Poésy). He meets her whilst Ray and Ken stumble upon the set of a film. Also tangled up in the plot is a midget(Jimmy) (or dwarf - as he liked to be referred to)(Jordan Prentice) some prostitutes, a gun dealer, American tourists and Canadian diners. Jimmy in fact ends up quite central to the development of the story.

A pregnant innkeeper (Thekla Reuten) also adds to the atmosphere of the story being set just before Christmas.


Eventually, we are also introduced to Harry (Ralph Fiennes), the boss of the hitmen and we also gain an understanding of what he is like as a man too.

I don't want to say too much more, because it would definitely spoil the plot.


***Acting ***


~Colin Farrell (Ray) ~

The film opens with Ray introducing why and how they came to be in Bruges - matter of factly -


Ray - "Get the **** out of London, you dumb ****. Get to Bruges." I didn't even know where Bruges ****ing was...........It's in London."

His comedy timing and acting is superb. You warm to the character, even though you know he is a hitman who has carried out terrible violence. He makes you laugh, he makes you cry, he makes you wonder how someone can live with themselves, whilst doing this type of work for a living. Even with no dialogue he is able to make you understand the character's turmoil and guilt.


Comedy wise, I can't think of anyone who could play this part any better. Poking fun at some rather large tourists and taunting them, was so very naughty - but hilarious. I am not always a big fan of swearing for no reason, but have to say that this added to Colin Farrell's delivery of his lines.
I really liked him in Phone Booth too - which is also a film focused upon dialgoue (for obvious reasons!)


~Brendan Gleeson (Ken)~

I couldn't place this actor at first and then I remembered that he was in Harry Potter!
This actor plays a tired ageing man, dissillusioned with his actions in life to really well. He is also not short in the comedy department and gets some fabulous deadpan lines:


Ken:" You from the States?
Jimmy: Yeah. But don't hold it against me.
Ken: I'll try not to... Just try not to say anything too loud or crass."

Also one of my favourite scenes is when Harry rings and Ken pretends to tell Ray to go out for the night. His expressions made me laugh.


The scene in the children's playground is brilliantly acted; what a great choice of setting to have people capable of murder meeting up here. There is an element of farce to this scene and others which again adds to the comedy factor.

~Ralph Fiennes (Harry)~


This is a different kind of part to what I have seen Fiennes play before and he was really funny playing a cockney gangster. His lines were quick and he went from being soft and dreamy (talking about his trip to Bruges as a child) to the hard man dealing with a gun dealer. I don't really want to give any quotes because they are all full of swearing or abusive language!!

He plays the role almost over the top, which for this character works. He was very funny and it was nice to see him in a different type of role.


The other actors also deserve recognition for their contribution and I thought overall the casting was strong.

~Soundtrack~

A skilful soundtrack will certainly add to the intensity of any feelings you have, whilst watching certain scenes and I think that the main underlying piano piece is:

"Schubert: 24. Der Leiermann,


which I haven't heard before, but I will remember now. I love playing the piano and all classical music, so maybe that is why I enjoyed it so much - a gentle, sad, haunting piece, that only enhanced the poignant moments.

***Opinion***


I think that you will either love or hate this film. I should mention that swearing features stongly, as does violence and this is a film that doesn't know the meaning of political correctness. The film is racist, bigoted, pokes fun at obesity, isn't too respectful of women (I am thinking of the Canadians in the restaurant) and midget jokes are aplenty.

One of the main feelings I got from watching this was that of a naughty teenager - watching and listening to comments that you just don't tend to hear nowadays. I almost felt guilty laughing as the insults poured back and forth, but not for long, because if it is possible to be tongue in cheek and lighthearted about these sorts of issues, then this film I think achieved that. It wasn't disprespecful - in fact it did highlight the fact that there must still be idiots around who do talk this way.


Although this was a dark sad film at times and had serious issues at heart, I laughed and laughed at the quick dialogue, especially between Ray and Ken. Ray acted like a typical stroppy teenager who just didn't want to be there and Ken was the grown up, trying to enjoy the sightseeing and point out the beauty and historical importance to Ray.... with no success.

A big mention should be given to beautiful Bruges itself. This film must have been a fantastic boost to the tourism industry and the architecture and historical beauty of the city were shown to good effect. Shots of churches, canals and cobbled streets both at night and in the day, were well managed, so much so that it brought this beautiful city to my attention. Maybe one day I too will be able to be 'In Bruges' - now it is famous for more than just chocolate and other things I won't talk about here - watch the film!!


Of course as well as the acting, it is the dialogue itself that is superb, which was recognised with an Oscar nomination in 2009 for Martin McDonagh. It is swift, it is pacy and this is a film that you can get into straight away. What went wrong with the hit is quickly discovered through a flashback and the film moves swiftly along to how Ray and Ken deal with this, whilst awaiting instructions from Harry.

I thought the writing was both innovative and brave in this day and age! He did well to deal with the serious issues, whilst maintaining the humour. Also, the writer gave a very limited backstory, leaving how they came to their chosen profession very much to the viewer's own imagination, which added to the air of mystery. I am sure that this is a writer to watch and I will look out for future films.

In some ways you couldn't find more unlikely hitmen - they don't come across as particularly hard and tough as usual gangster films might portray these type of characters. There again, I don't know what a typical hit man might be like, haven't really met any!!!


***Summary***

Would I watch this film again - I already have!! It was just as funny, just as tragic and just as clever as the first time around. Even if you are not into films with swearing, violence etc, I would still give this a go, because the dialogue is worth it alone. Yes, there is violence, but it isn't throughout the film and this isn't the main emphasis. Definitely worth watching.

Summary: If hell is Bruges - it doesn't look too bad to me!!!