A funny, and touching character drama

Rating: 9/10 (28 April 2008)

After a hit on a priest goes wrong Ray and Ken, the hit men involved, are sent to Bruges to hide out by their boss. While there, they get involved with a dwarf actor, a female drug dealer, and all the while Ray complains about Bruges....
I don't want to reveal a lot of the plot here, but I have to say as a movie it's never what you expect. The script by writer/director Martin McDonagh is very funny in a politically incorrect way. McDonagh also directs well, getting good performances from Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes and especially Colin Farrell. This is probably his best performance yet. The rest of the cast are all good too, with a special mention to Jordan Prentice, who plays Jimmy the dwarf in the movie. His character takes a bit of a kicking via comments in the script, but he holds his own with the other actors in the movie.
As I stated the movie is very funny, but it's not a comedy. Instead, it's more of a character piece, with every character well thought out in the movie, and most get their own little moments. However when Harry (Fiennes) shows up, it sets up the dramatic climax with a burst of action, which again McDonagh handles well. The climax of the movie is a little downbeat, but yet seems right for the movie.
The city of Bruges takes takes a bit of beating in the script, but it looks a wonderful city, and gives some scenes a dream-like quality. It looks fantastic and a wonderful place to visit.
As is the movie.