In Bruges – 2008 | 107 mins | Thriller, Comedy | Colour

Plot Synopsis

In Bruges is a confident comedy-thriller that successfully revamps the odd-couple/gangster caper genre.  Director-writer Martin McDonagh’s debut feature is a clever and savvy tragicomedy featuring Farrell and Gleeson as mismatched hitmen exchanging politically incorrect verbal sparring, moments of tongue-in-cheek black humour and personal moral quandaries. Gleeson excels in his role as the weary gangster and Ralph Fiennes is enjoyable as the gangster with a sense of honour. Farrell struggles slightly to juggle his humorous dim-witted persona with romantic pathos.

After the completion of a botched shooting in London, fellow hitmen Ken and his protégé Ray are sent to Belgium’s most picturesque city, Bruges, by Cockney crime lord Harry (Ralph Fiennes). Very much out of place, both are Dubliners; Ken (Brendan Gleeson) the old pro and his younger room-sharer,Ray (Colin Farrell), is a philistine loose cannon. Ken immerses himself in the culture of the medieval surroundings, but Ray relaxes with drink and drugs, and takes out his boredom on everyone from overweight American tourists to drug-addled dwarves. Events take a turn for the worse when Harry gives Ken his latest assignment, which Ken’s not too happy about.