In Bruges

Rating: 10/10 (25 September 2008)

If you haven't seen this film then go and see it but PLEASE don't read on until you have.
I saw it last night on pay TV and how I wished I'd seen it on the big screen. It has stayed with me all day.Like the song in your head that wont go away.
I guess from the look of it that it was shot on some species of digital camera...(I saw from the credits they used an Arri, but there were credits for Delux and a neg cutter..?..!)
It would have made sense to have shot this on HD as a wet night in a city lit by practicals cries our for it. The photography was wonderful, not in that it delivered a slide show of gorgeous frames, but that you felt you were there. It wasn't there to show off but to drive the story along, part of the narrative.You could feel your warm top coat around you as you sat in the sidewalk café, you could taste the cold strong beer and the cool night air on your face.
Mr McDonah is a vivid talent and for a feature film débutant shows an amazing sureness of touch. of course he has already won an Oscar for his short film, obviously a good training ground! I'll light a candle for him that his next film is just as good but completely different.Then we will know a new star has risen.(Oh that difficult second album!)
The writing, as in any film, is the most important element and the bizarre, strangely formal, dialogue, especially Harry's ,was to hear screen writing at its electrifying best.The samurai-like code of honour of the killers just added to the grown up fairy-tale feel. Towne and Tarantino on a good day.
As actors Gleason and Fiennes were, as ever, beyond criticism,simply faultless.
Everyone who writes about Colin Farrell begins with the disclaimer that they are 'not a fan', well I guess he's not the most likable of people. But his performance in this was pure gold.Spectacular. Part Dougal Mcguire (Father Ted) and part Stan Laurel yet convincingly tough. The brutal violence had a real Tom and Jerry slapstick to it and was perfectly judged. As were the accompanying quotable lines"Thats for John Lennon yer fokin yankee khont" as he punches out the obnoxious fellow diner who, despite sitting in the smoking section, complains about their smoking...we have ALL met him..if you haven't then you ARE him!
Once again the director has shown himself true officer material to get such a wonderful performance from a difficult, but gifted actor."OK Colin today you're going to karate-chop a dwarf." (I think there was a nod to "Living in Oblivion" there.)
Like 'The Birds' this movie sets out as a comedy but ends in a glimpse of Hell,There is a real medieval Catholic perception of sin, guilt and retribution running through this like the words in a stick of rock ( to quote Graham Greene, another obvious influence)
Like the final journey to Hell as portrayed by Heronimous Bosch,this film too is a haunting, disturbing, dazzling work of of art.