Fox News Review 18.01.08
Source: Fox News
Colin Farrell Makes Sundance Opening a Hit
For about seven years, we’ve been watching Colin Farrell try and become a Hollywood star. It all started with Joel Schumacher’s low-budget “Tigerland.” But then things went downhill, Farrell crashed and burned a little and off he went to rehab.
But now comes Colin in Martin McDonagh’s terrific Coen Brothers-like tale “In Bruges.” The movie and star are smart, funny and fast. This is the performance that should really put Farrell in the driver’s seat. It’s that good.
“In Bruges” opened the Sundance Film Festival Thursday night with a bang, but not before Robert Redford greeted the sold-out crowd at the Eccles Auditorium with his annual temperature-taking.
Redford, as expected, took a couple of small swipes at the current political climate, although his remarks were shorter and more tempered than in the past. What a shame!
“We keep hearing the word 'change,'” Redford told the crowd. “God knows this country is desperately in need of change.”
One change Thursday night was that for the first time in several seasons, the opening night film was very, very good. “In Bruges” might be the best and most original release from Universal’s Focus Features in a long time.
The plot is simple: Farrell is a hit man in London, but after a very bad experience, his boss — played by Ralph Fiennes — sends him and fellow hit man Brendan Gleeson to Bruges on holiday.
Gleeson’s character is immediately enamored of the fairy-tale Belgian city. Farrell’s is not. And soon Fiennes comes into the mix in such a disarming performance that he may get a whole new audience of fans just from this film. Gleeson is also spectacular. I only hope this trio is remembered this fall for awards consideration.
With “In Bruges,” Sundance 2008 gets off to a promising start. On Friday, the movie schedule begins in earnest, and everyone you meet is talking about the glut of films seeking distributors and film companies desperate for product.
