A decent crime flick but nothing particularly special

Rating: 7/10 (21 December 2008)

"In Bruges" is a crime flick like so many in recent years that explore the lives and moral dilemmas of criminals. In this case, the film centres on two hit men holed up in Bruges, Belgium after a hit gone wrong. When it becomes apparent that someone is going to have to take the fall questions of right and wrong are raised.
The cast is a pretty good one with Brendan Gleeson & Colin Farrell working well together. I give the edge to Gleeson in the acting department but that may be because Farrell's character is rather unlikable (at least initially). Ralph Fiennes also turns in a good performance as their menacing boss and Clémence Poésy amply supplies the eye candy.
The script is better than average but I wouldn't rank it alongside the best films of this type. It's got much of the same flavour but it just isn't as memorable. Overall, the storyline is pretty satisfying though it surprises me to see this film classed as a comedy.
The technical side of things is ably handled but not particularly notable.
In the end, this is a worthwhile film if you're looking for something along the lines of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" et al., except with more depth. While I think that this film lacks the indefinable spark that makes the best of those films appealing it is nevertheless a fairly unique spin on similar material.