There's something about the Irish...

Rating: 8/10 (8 February 2008)

Can't quite put a finger on it, but there's something about the Irish that knits humor, pathos and grit together like few others can. Jim Sheridan, Danny Boyle, Terry Loane and Kenneth Branaugh do it exceedingly well. This offering by Martin McDonagh -- in only his first feature -- is no exception. He's aided, mind you, by exceptional performances (Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes doing terrific turns with some very offbeat, "sideways" characters) and his own competent script.
The one shortcoming is the over-the-top scene where Ray, Ken and "midget" Jimmy indulge in cocaine, booze and off-the-wall banter about racial wars. The scene comes across as an intrusion, a dark throwaway, one that is out of place in an otherwise gripping story of characters who have chosen a questionable -- but intriguing -- profession.
Not your typical Hollywood ending by a long shot -- but probably more satisfying especially because it's not. Worth seeing.