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In
Bruges
(2008)
Oscar-winning writer/director Martin McDonagh
(Six Shooter) makes his feature film debut in style,
providing the best movie of 2008 so far. In Bruges is
an old-fashioned medieval morality tale given a new and highly
entertaining twist. Not only is it set among the gorgeous scenery
of the best maintained medieval city in Belgium, but the characters
face the same questions regarding the fates of their souls
as the most generic Everyman, yet each is unique enough to
make the film an overwhelming success.
Following a botched hit in England, hired killers Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) take a few weeks to cool off and lay low in idyllic fairy-tale city of Bruges in the Belgian countryside. Trying to make the most of the forced vacation, Ken takes to the historic streets for sightseeing, dragging his unwilling protégé along. It doesn't take long, however, for Ray to meet a local woman (Clémence Poésy) who changes his initial impressions of the town. Just as the pair is starting to find their places in Bruges, a call from their boss (Ralph Fiennes) changes everything.
In Bruges is perhaps the most successful dark comedy
since the Coen Brothers' Fargo, but hilarious as
it is, it's also got some fairly deep philosophical and moral
elements as well. The film's subtle commentary on tourism,
views of Americans in the rest of the world, and the prevalence
of English speakers throughout continental Europe are spot-on
and the egotistical dwarf movie star (Jordan Prentice) the
protagonists encounter will have even non-dark-humor-fans
holding their sides. That said, the exploration of darker
(in the moral sense) themes is what really makes In Bruges stand
out as such a great film.
Throughout the film Ken and Ray are forced time and again to
come to terms with the moral implications of their line of work.
Ken, the older of the two, seems more resigned to his fate and
takes his time in Bruges to enjoy the beauty of life while not
immediately forced to take someone else's. It's the younger Ray
who carries the brunt of the emotional conflict in the film.
Having recently made a mess of a job, costing the life of an
innocent child, Ray struggles to reconcile his extreme guilt. Unfortunately
neither character can avoid the topic among the gothic architecture of Bruges
and museums full of apocalyptic medieval artwork. Both men embody the classic
Everyman, as they attempt to live their lives properly, yet can't seem to
do so because of their circumstances, and it's their souls and consciences
that pay the price.
Like a modern Odd Couple, Gleeson and Farrell make a perfect
comedic and dramatic foil to one another and complement each
other with the skill and chemistry of a team that has worked
together for many years. Though it wasn't what he had originally
set out to be with with disappointing leading-man roles in
films like Alexander,
Phone Booth and Miami Vice, Colin Farrell is proving
himself to be one of the fastest rising talents among character
actors with this and his other recent guilt-ridden-killer role
in Woody Allen's
Cassandra's Dream. Likewise, Gleeson firmly cements his already
established career with this standout performance. Ralph Fiennes
is up to his usual standard as well as the pair's ruthless boss
Harry.
In Bruges might be the best feature debut of any filmmaker
in a long, long time, and Marin McDonagh has secured his transition
from playwright to filmmaker flawlessly. Any doubts that may
have been in the backs of people's minds regarding the justification
for his Oscar win for his short film Six Shooter in
2006 should be put to rest like the victims of one of Harry's
many hits. The year is still young and McDonagh's cinema career
is just beginning but I have a strong suspicion that In Bruges will
rank highly among the rest of 2008's contenders when I look back
on the year in December, and I am even more certain that this
expert craftsman has great things in store for us with his next
film.
-Mark
Moreland
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All contents ©
2004-2007 Thoughtsonfilm.com |
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Director:
Martin
McDonagh
Writer: Martin
McDonagh
Starring: Colin
Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy,
Jordan Prentice, Jérémie Renier
Distributor: Focus
Features
Runtime: 107
min
Rating: R
Release Date: February
8, 2008
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