In Bruges - REVIEW

after passing on weeks worth of dreck, I finally made my first outing to the theater for 2008, and after returning, 2008 is off to a good (though bloody) start. Like Pulp Fiction with a dark European twist, Martin McDonaugh's "In Bruges" is an odd little comedy/drama/crime film that works better than it should. When Ray (Colin Farrell, in his first good performance!), a hitman, messes up on a kill, he and partner Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are sent to Bruges, Belgium, much to Ray's disdain (there's a constant running joke about Ray's hatred for the city). They are to stay in the city and "sightsee" until boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes in top form and pseudo-cockney accent) gives them further instructions. I won't reveal other details, but for the duration of the film we are given a movie that, much like Pulp Fiction, bizarrely (though effectively) juxtaposes tragedy and darkness with wickedly funny and profane dialogue. The film's strange tone (not quite comedy, not quite heavy heavy drama) is perfectly matched by McDonaugh's direction and Carter Burwell's (2006's "Fur") pitch perfect music. Colin Farrell, who starred in that film I love to hate, "Alexander", actually turns in a good performance, and proves he can even be pretty damn funny. Perfectly complimenting him is Brendan Gleeson, as the optimistic half of the duo, who's fallen in love with Bruges. Ralph Fiennes is perfect as well (who knew he could be funny?) and his line delivery is brilliant. However, while Pulp Fiction (and pretty much all Tarantino films) benefited from telling events out of sequence, In Bruges fails to use it effectively, even though it's only used.....once. It doesn't do anything horrible, but it's not really necessary and actually weakens the impact of a prolonged glance that Farrell's character throws at a family and their two children. There's also a late in the game contrivance that seems a little too forced (though it is funny) and seems to be there because McDonaugh needed a quick way to get all the characters where they needed to be for the finale. In the end though, the positive elements easily outweigh the bad, with the stellar acting, hilarious dialogue, great music, and swift directing. It's not quite a GREAT film, but it's a very good (and very bloody) one that deserves to be seen, not just by Pulp Fiction lovers, but by anyone looking for a dark and funny time at the movies.

Grade: B+/A-

Current Nominations(....okay....this is kind of awkward since it's the only film of the year so I can't really give out "wins"...) Best Picture, Best Director - Martin McDonaugh, Best Actor - Colin Farrell, Best Actor - Brendan Gleeson, Best Supporting Actor - Ralph Fiennes, Best Supporting Actor - Jordan Prentice, Best Supporting Actress - Clemence Posey, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score - Carter Burwell, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing

Number of 2008 films seen: 1