In Bruges
- Director: Martin McDonagh
- United Kingdom, 2008
In Bruges tells the story of two hitmen who lie low after a contract in the picturesque Belgian city. This is McDonagh’s first feature-length effort, having started out writing award-winning plays and then winning an Oscar for his short Six Shooter in 2006. Unsurprisingly then, the film is full of superb dialogue, with McDonagh’s script firing off the page like a sort of cocky, Anglo-Irish David Mamet.
The film’s characters are beautifully drawn, without recourse to too much background or showy tics. Each of the three protagonists - the two hitmen and their “sponsor” - has their own pace, their own unique style. Brendan Gleeson’s Ken manages to stay wise whilst being neither patronising nor paternal. Colin Farrell as his young colleague Ray is impatient and clumsy, yet he remains sympathetic throughout. Meanwhile, Ralph Fiennes occupies his role as their master Harry with absolute authority, despite spending the first and second acts on the other end of a phone.
There’s violence here and there’s great beauty. There are cold-blooded killers and passionate lovers. This could turn out to be the precocious debut of a master filmmaker.
