Not Your Average Hit Men
In Bruges is an unconventional dramedy about two Irish hit men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who contemplate life, death and retribution in a brief tryst in picturesque Bruges, Belgium. Written and directed by Martin Mc Donagh (Six Shooter) the quirkiness and fairy-tale setting of Bruges, commonly referred to as the “Venice of The North” complement the neurotic, genial relationship between Ray and Ken. The scenes between Farrell and Gleeson are at times laugh out loud funny, almost reminiscent of a modern day Laurel and Hardy. As a Tony Award nominee for his play Pillowman, Mc Donagh’s film debut features familiar odd, misplaced characters who although are unabashedly flawed, seem strangely likeable.
Restless Days
After a botched hit in London, Ray and Ken arrive in Bruges to lay-low and wait for the unwanted call from their foul-mouthed boss, Harry (Ralph Fiennes). Ray takes an instant dislike to the city, bemoaning its medieval charm as tedious and boring. Farrell is at his best in this film and pulls together a truly wicked comedic performance, especially in the first twenty minutes of the film. On the other side of the coin is Ken, a mentor to Ray who seems to come to life, enchanted by the city’s culture, art décor and winding romantic canals. Gleeson is equally solid and imbues in Ken a wisdom and inner peace that Ray’s tough guy persona sourly lacks. The city’s charm works its magic on Ray as he discovers a reason to enjoy his trip when he stumbles onto a film set and meets Chloe (Clemence Posey) a free-spirited Belgium girl and a dwarf (Jordan Prentice) with a drug addiction.
Guilt and Punishment
Determined to make the best of their stay in Bruges, Ken convinces Ray to do a little sight seeing around town. During a trip to a local museum, Ray confesses his guilt over his last job, the assassination of a priest, where he inadvertently killed a young boy. Ray’s overwhelming guilt and depression makes his behavior unpredictable and he becomes suicidal. While Ray is out on a date with Chloe, Ken gets the call from Harry. Ray will have to pay for the last job with his life because he killed the kid, and that wasn’t part of the plan. Harry, like every other mixed-up character in this film have their own sense of moral outrage. Once that threshold is crossed, there must be a reckoning. Ray’s desire to want to kill himself later in the film is a direct result of his own moral outrage to his own actions. Harry entrusts Ken with killing Ray and now Ken has a moral dilemma. Will he kill Ray, who is already suicidal?
The funny thing about Bruges is that it’s not your typical gangster flick. Mc Donagh’s characters engage in activities that would make a normal person despise them. In Mc Donagh's world there is no black or white, just shades of gray. Although, there is something distinctively human about watching people struggle with their own demons, even hitmen like Ray and Ken. While watching their inner turmoil, we hope for their redemption and ours.
In Bruges may muddy the water of convention, but it's worth the price of admission. If anything, go see it for Colin Farrell’s performance, it’s really his best ever.
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