Violent, Funny & Thoughtful

Rating: 9/10 (8 March 2010)

Really well written with interesting characters and off beat humor - some flashes of brutality and violence but for those that like quirky films with strong acting - try out IN BRUGES. Written and directed by a terrific playwright - the film takes its time with the two main leads - hit men hiding out in Bruges after a "job" goes badly. Instead of one dimensional killers - the film shows them to be three dimensional with fears and guilt and hope and decency and love - just like anybody. Gleeson is a wonderful character actor and gives a tremendous performance here - Farrell is also a pleasant surprise - when he is usually put into the leading man roles I find him rather boring but he's powerful here as the naive, jump first =think later criminal. And Ralph Fiennes is a delight as the short tempered crime boss. I can see how this film wouldn't be for everyone - but for a crime comedy, it is very well done.