A wait in purgatory

Rating: 9/10 (29 April 2008)

Masquerading as an action black comedy the film sets out to establish the town of Bruges as purgatory. The main protagonists wait for judgement for their past sins in the town. One character overtly expresses his desire for repentance, the other's sins are more deeply hidden. The point is emphasised by overtly referencing Bosch's Last Judgement.
The consistently witty dialogue is gallows humour and the pair are each made to suffer graphically for their sins. The younger character is left with the possibility of redemption the elder perhaps resigned to a transfer to hell although his descent is through a frosty air earlier equated to a fairy tale.
The resolution is perhaps a too trite symmetry with Bosch's painting brought to life as a film set.
Other than this over emphasis (perhaps necessary for a mainstream audience) this is a well scripted, tightly directed film with marvellous performances.
I hadn't laughed out loud watching a film for a long time.