In Bruges

Infobox Film
name = In Bruges


image_size =
caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Martin McDonagh
producer = Graham Broadbent Peter Czernin
writer = Martin McDonagh
narrator =
starring = Colin Farrell Brendan Gleeson Ralph Fiennes
music = Carter Burwell
cinematography = Eigil Bryld
editing = Jon Gregory Ian Seymour
distributor = Focus Features
released = January 17 2008
runtime = 107 min.
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:385253
imdb_id = 0780536

"In Bruges" is a 2008 film directed and written by Martin McDonagh. The film stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as hitmen in hiding, with Ralph Fiennes as their gangster boss. The film takes place within the Belgian city of Bruges.

"In Bruges" was the opening night film of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. [cite web|url=http://www.sundance.org/festival/press_industry/releases/sff08_opening_night_film_in_bruges.asp |title=World premiere of Martin MacDonagh's In Bruges to open 2008 Sundance Film Festival|date=2007-11-19|accessdate=2008-01-18] The film opened in limited release in the United States on February 8 2008; premiered at the Dublin Film Festival on February 15 2008; later went on full release in Ireland on March 7 2008; and opened April 18 2008 in the United Kingdom.

The film contains many references to "Don't Look Now," [http://www.twincities.com/movies/ci_8195322] including the claim by Chloë, one of the film's characters, that the film-within-a-film is a pastiche of "Don't Look Now". The plot also bears notable similarities to Harold Pinter's "The Dumb Waiter". [ [http://chicago.metromix.com/movies/movie_review/movie-review-in-bruges/300627/content Movie review: 'In Bruges' | Metromix Chicago ] ]

ynopsis

During his first job, fledgling contract killer Ray accidentally kills a young boy. He and his senior colleague Ken are sent to the quaint Belgian city of Bruges by their high-strung, foulmouthed employer Harry, and told to await further instructions. While Ken takes in the sights and historic medieval buildings, Ray is morose and withdrawn, wracked with guilt over his killing of a child. One night, while observing a film shoot with the dwarf actor Jimmy, Ray strikes up a romance with Chloë, a local drug dealer and thief moonlighting as a production assistant. Eirik, Chloë's former boyfriend, attacks Ray, but Ray disarms and partially blinds him.

Despite his budding romance with Chloë, Ray's guilt at his accidental killing of the boy continues to haunt him. Ken finally receives a call from Harry, who orders him to kill Ray on the principle that the killing of a child – even accidentally – is unforgivable. Ken retrieves a handgun from Harry's local Belgian contact and tracks Ray to a park. As Ken sneaks up behind Ray to kill him, he sees Ray is about to commit suicide. His concern for his young charge overrides his sense of duty to their employer, and Ken prevents Ray's suicide. While the two discuss the situation, Ken disarms Ray and convinces him to leave the city and the business. Following Ray's departure, Ken calls Harry, reveals his insubordination and location, and abruptly hangs up. An enraged Harry heads to Bruges, where he purchases a gun and special ammunition from his contact.

Before Ray's train has traveled far from the town, he is arrested for assaulting a Canadian couple the previous evening, and escorted back to Bruges. Ken and Harry meet for a drink before ascending the steps of Bruges' belfry, where Ken declares that Ray deserves a chance at redemption, and offers his life in exchange for Ray's. Harry, while furious, takes pity on Ken and shoots him in the leg. Meanwhile, Chloë bails Ray out of jail, and the two share a drink on the market square beneath the belfry. When Eirik informs Harry of Ray's location, Ken attacks Harry to prevent him from going after Ray, and is shot in the neck. Harry descends the steps to confront Ray, leaving Ken to die. Mortally wounded, Ken drags himself back to the top of the carillon tower and leaps off, landing in the plaza, in order to warn Ray of Harry's arrival.

Ray flees back to the hotel for his gun. Harry arrives soon after, but the pregnant owner of the hotel refuses to allow him up the stairs. Shouting through the stairwell, both men agree that Ray will try to flee from the back of the hotel, and Harry will run after him and shoot him if he can. Ray jumps on a boat passing by, and Harry shoots him from a distance. Harry pursues the now-wounded Ray through the streets before stumbling onto the film set, where Jimmy is in costume as a schoolboy. Harry shoots Ray another three times and in the process inadvertently blows Jimmy's head off. Mistaking Jimmy's headless body for that of a child, Harry commits suicide, on principle. The gravely-wounded Ray is lifted onto an ambulance where, surrounded by the townspeople he has encountered, he loses consciousness.

Cast

* Colin Farrell as Ray, a conscience-stricken hitman on his second assignment.
* Brendan Gleeson as Ken, an older and more experienced hitman.
* Ralph Fiennes as Harry Waters, a crime boss with unbending principles.
* Clémence Poésy as Chloë, a Belgian criminal and production assistant.
* Jordan Prentice as Jimmy, an American dwarf actor.
* Thekla Reuten as Marie, co-owner and operator of the hotel.
* Jérémie Renier as Eirik, Chloë's ex-boyfriend.
* Anna Madeley as Denise
* Elizabeth Berrington as Natalie
* Ciaran Hinds (uncredited) as the priest

Critical reception

The film received generally favourable reviews from critics. As of July 29 2008 the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 81% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 129 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_bruges/ |title=In Bruges - Movie Reviews, Trailers, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2008-02-08 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 67 out of 100, based on 34 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/inbruges |title=In Bruges (2008): Reviews |accessdate=2008-02-08 |publisher=Metacritic] "Chicago Sun-Times" film critic Roger Ebert gave the film high praise and a four-out-of-four-star rating, saying, "This film debut by the theater writer and director Martin McDonagh is an endlessly surprising, very dark, human comedy, with a plot that cannot be foreseen but only relished."cite web|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080207/REVIEWS/802070301/-1/REVIEWS01|title=In Bruges|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=2008-02-07|publisher=rogerebert.com|accessdate=2008-08-27]

DVD

The film was released on DVD in Region 1 on 24 June 2008, and in Region 2 on 11 August 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.alliancefilms.com/en/89/details/display/11370/ film site at Alliance films]
*imdb title|id=0780536|title=In Bruges
*rotten-tomatoes|id=in_bruges|title=In Bruges
*metacritic film|id=inbruges|title=In Bruges
*mojo title|id=inbruges|title=In Bruges
*amg movie|id=1:385253|title=In Bruges
* [http://www.myspace.com/inbrugesthemovie "In Bruges"] Profile on MySpace
* [http://www.alliancefilms.com/inbruges/trailer.html Trailer] at Alliance Films