The Daily Utah Chronicle Review 24/01/08
Source: Daily Utah Chronicle
Not to disappoint the rest of us pseudo-Irish or Irish-loving folk, our two heroes did exactly what we wanted them to: they drank, they screwed, they hung out with midgets, they shot each other up, they said "f***" a lot and kicked two hours of ass in the Opening Night film, "In Bruges."
It was a pleasant surprise to say the least. Because here's the thing about the first night of the Sundance Film Festival. For all the glamour and hype that surrounds it, the first movie of the fest somehow always ends up being disappointing, ranging from mere star-studded mediocrity ("Friends With Money" in 2006) to star-studded s***tyocrity ("Levity" in 2003).
Even when they don't plain suck, the Opening Night films are underwhelming. Last year's "Chicago 10" -- an inventive take on the historical docudrama that somehow never completely worked -- springs to mind.
"In Bruges" is the rare exception. It's a deliciously dark comedy about a pair of hitmen vacationing in Bruges, Belgium, after a hit-gone-wrong. Ray (Farrell) is not the least bit excited about having to stay in the quaint, touristy little town, but Ken (Gleeson) couldn't be more pleased. Regardless of how they feel about it, they have to be there, and they have to stay -- boss' orders.
