Review: "In Bruges"


Surprisingly enough the tone is more melancholy than ironic, which is what separates McDonagh from Tarantino. As much as I love Tarantino's work, you would be hard pressed to find a beating heart in any of his films outside of Kill Bill: Vol. 2. But beneath In Bruges' cynical veneer lies the wounded soul of a man who has done the unthinkable, and has had to live with the pain ever since.
The difference is clear from the opening credits, where McDonagh makes great use of the scenery and architecture of the ancient town, accompanied by Carter Burwell's wistful piano theme. In fact music is one of the film's strongest aspects, especially the powerful use of The Dubliners' "Raglan Road" near the end of the film.
In Bruges works on so many levels - as a comedy, as an action film, as a mood piece, but above all, an exercise in pitch perfect filmmaking. McDonagh really nails this one, everything about it is perfectly executed and finely tuned for maximum impact, and all the performers are in absolutely top form (Gleeson and Farrell have never been better).
In short - I loved every single minute of it. McDonagh's first feature film hits it out of the park in a bloodly blaze of drunken Irish rage - with plenty of profane insults just for good measure. In Bruges is a an absolutely maniacal, and yet strangely beautiful, pleasure.
GRADE - ***½ (three-and-a-half stars out of four)
IN BRUGES; Directed by Martin McDonagh; Stars Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Jordan Prentice, Thekla Reuten; Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.
Comments