the irony! oh gosh the irony was what made it!

Rating: 9/10 (29 June 2008)

So I watched In Bruges last night. From the very opening of the film, Colin Farrell's voice over informs us he's a hit-man. Now, this bit of information didn't turn me off the story, but a part of me wondered just how much more this film could offer to the many hit-man parodies.
Well, after viewing the entire film, I'm not sure if In Bruges added anything expediential new to the hit-man genre, but I'll be damned if it wasn't smart, funny, incredibly witty with its irony, and just all around great! In Bruges's goal isn't to add a brand new take on hit-man movies (at parts it plays on some of the same strategies as Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), but it still has its very original voice and execution. I think what made this film stand out so much for me was it's brilliance in irony! The screenwriter, Martin McDonagh (and director) knew exactly what he wanted to do, and more important, knew what the audience thought he was going to dotherefore, twisting the story into many unpredictable moments. And further, he was able to build up these amazingly funny and oddly morally-compelling situations for his characters. Like when watching the Ocean 11/12/13 movies, where you know the cast is pretty much just having one big party while filming; In Bruges's story makes it seem like McDonagh had his own little writing-partydeciding never to restrict himself when challenging his characters' morals (and always doing so in very amusing fashions) and constantly trying to make us guess "where to next?" I would love to go deeper into many ironic scenes, but I'm afraid that would make the film less rewarding for those who haven't seen it (and if you have seen it, I'm sure you already know what I'm talking about).
Aside from all the compliments I want to keep giving this film, I do have one beef. It's one of those beefs that you let slide because the movie as a whole is just so well done, however, I feel I should bring it up brieflyperhaps somebody can clear it up for me. The only issue I had had to do with Brendan Gleeson's character, Ken. It's never really explained just why Ken gets so attached to Ray (Colin Farrell). We know the governing reason of why he feels sorry for him (and we know why Ray hates himself); however, within the actions of the film we find out that while Ray is very new to the hit-man occupation, Ken has been in the business for awhile now. Because this is the case, I feel like Ken would have had to encounter moral dilemmas like the main one in this film before. Yet, he reacts very differently during this moral-dilemma, but I never understood why this time was so different. What was it that he saw in Ray that was so moving? Surely, he's seen reactions like Ray's before within this kind of profession.
Nevertheless, my small complaint is nothing to dwell on, strictly because everything else is so well executed and fun. Each actor gives a pitch-perfect performance; owning their moments when needing to and bowing down to their partners when needing too. (And Fiennes scene when smashing the phone had me on the floorsorry, I just really wanted to give that scene a shot out)