Niagara Falls Reporter Review / 27.02.08
Source: Niagara Falls Reporter
Bruges is a town in Belgium that is considered, depending on who's doing the travel promoting, either the most perfectly restored medieval city in Europe or the most pristine medieval village (no restoration needed) in the world. Regardless, it's a pretty place with its canals and squares and tower and absolute lack of garish neon signs and hooligans.
But wait, here come the hooligans. Brendan Gleason and Colin Farrell are the hit men who are ordered by their British boss, a nasty Ralph Fiennes, to hide in Bruges because their most recent mission ended in a mess. I won't tell you what kind of fiasco, but suffice it to say that it's not taking-out-a-priest that gets them in trouble. Gleason's character loves Bruges and is fascinated by its history and tourist sites. Farrell is completely bored by the place and has a comic moment at the beginning of the movie during which he castigates some Americans. And just to show he's an equal opportunity offender, there's a nifty Canadian riff that will come later.
You should watch a film like this with its surprises left unrevealed. I'll keep secret most of the movie's mysteries. By the time Fiennes has traveled to Bruges to clean up the mess, you know you're watching a superior film. Noted British playwright Martin McDonagh ("The Beauty Queen of Leenane") directs from his own entertaining screenplay. As a director he knows where to concentrate the camera, and he keeps his rich dialogue flowing, letting his capable actors run with the witty, clever and expository words. Add the scenic splendor and top-notch acting and you've got a movie that is utterly satisfying.
What's especially wonderful about "In Bruges" is that each character is fully developed and is given depth and meaning that's not often found in contemporary thrillers, right down to the lady who owns the hotel and the hooker-loving dwarf. I can best compare the writing and acting to the excellence of "Michael Clayton." Gleason, Farrell and Fiennes do riveting work.
With its plot twists and hints of dread, "In Bruges" is the best new movie I've seen this year.
