What Do The Critics Say?

"This isn't some half baked title in the absence of a better one; it is entirely in the service of the story, which not only takes place in Bruges, but is driven by it through one of the characters. Farrell is well cast as the uncouth young assassin, who has a demon to exorcise, and Gleeson is great as the quietly gay killer with a love of culture and history. Fiennes is in terrific form as a hard man who maintains his set of principles at any price. Funny and thrilling, you'll find redemption In Bruges: it's worth the trip." Andrew L Urban URBANCINEFILE "In Bruges is memorable for its two leading men, whose Mutt and Jeff killers are nearly as fascinating and likable as those played by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction." Robert W Butler KANSAS CITY STAR "Brooding, tense, allegorical, quirky, tragic and unbelievably funny, In Bruges may be the most intelligent, introspective and bizarre gangster thriller in quite some time, perhaps ever." Prairie Miller NEWSBLAZE "In Bruges has unforgettable moments of depth, lots of pitch black humor, outrageous, unbelievable twists that are nevertheless quite entertaining and the teaming of Gleeson and Farrell who jointly deliver an acting knock out." Richard Knights WINDY CITY TIMES "With In Bruges, the British gangster movie gets a Croydon facelift. A wonderfully fresh take on a familiar genre: fucked-up, far-out and very, very funny." Damon Wise EMPIRE MAGAZINE "Much as with a Ritchie film, part of the fun is in the way the twists improbably bring everything together at the end. In Bruges resembles films like The Crying Game for larger reasons: When it's funny, it's hilarious; when it's serious, it's powerful; and either way, it's an endless pleasant surprise." Tasha Robinson ONION AV CLUB

"Visually stunning photography of the silent byways and crannies of the ancient medieval city of Bruges frames a story of guilt and honor played out by wonderfully demented hit men." Ron Wilkinson MONSTERS AND CRITICS "In Bruges is the first movie by the celebrated Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, who also wrote the script. It's an electrifyingly funny take on the Euro-gangster flick." Kurt Loder MTV "Writer-director Martin McDonagh revels in splattering his profane, bloody film all across Bruges' lovely cobblestones, and the result is a spectacular, hilariously transgressive debut." Rob Thomas CAPITAL TIMES "If you could hoist a film on your shoulders and parade it through the theater for adulation and hoorays, the new British crime comedy In Bruges would be the one." Colin Covert MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE "Writer/director Martin McDonagh has created something tonally unique, a film that is hilarious and tragic, irreverent and wistful, peopled with characters learning to love life with death all around them." Laura Clifford REELING REVIEWS "This film debut by the theater writer and director Martin McDonagh is an endlessly surprising, very dark, human comedy, with a plot that cannot be foreseen but only relished." Roger Ebert CHICAGO SUN-TIMES "Both Farrell and Gleeson give flawless performances and Farrell in particular, surprises us by the depth of his characterisation. Ralph Fiennes' unpleasant crime boss Harry is outright terrifying. Watching him explode is like watching a hernia erupting. Nothing is overdone, especially the comedy which balances the pathos and violence perfectly. Carter Burwell's music too, is exceptional, finding the range of colours to complement McDonagh's brilliant vision." Louise Keller URBANCINEFILE

The Inside Story For 2006 Academy Award winning writer and director Martin McDonagh ("Six Shooter"), "In Bruges" began to take shape in Bruges during a weekend in the city. Located in Belgium, about an hour from Brussels, Bruges was an important trading city in the Middle Ages, and became hugely wealthy. Its fortunes waned, but its historic architecture, art, and canals remained; towards the end of the 19th century, it became a popular tourist centre. McDonagh remembers, "While I was first there, about four years ago, I had diverging feelings about the place. I started thinking of two characters who might respond to Bruges in distinct ways, and I started writing about them, with specific parts of Bruges for them to interact in and around." Producer Graham Broadbent ("Very Annie Mary" & "Becoming Jane") and Pete Czernin ("Piccadilly Jim") read the script and, as Broadbent recalls, "thought the script was an amazing piece of writing; dazzling dialogue with a compelling story and wonderful roles. On visiting Bruges itself, you could see that it would be an additional character in the story; the city has such a heightened atmosphere and it's so picturesque, whichever way you pointed a camera it was going to look extraordinary." Actor Ralph Fiennes notes: "The restlessness of these characters, set against an old, beautiful, well-preserved little European city makes for a perfect counterpoint. Martin has a very particular voice; in his writing, the humour delicately coats his completely rounded characters. As a director, he proved to be smart and generous." The production came together quickly; within a year of McDonagh meeting with the producers, the film had found a home at Focus Features and casting was being finalized. Even more fortuitously, what with the "Venice of the North" as Bruges is known; being conceived as intrinsic to the story and the film, the city welcomed the cast and crew. "We asked for, and were given, direct access to many of the specific actual locations that Martin had set his story in. The mayor's, Tourism, and City Film Offices all made it possible for us to shoot there," Broadbent notes. When they arrived in the city, 1998 British Actor of the Year Brendon Gleeson ("The General") was amongst those to meet the Mayor, to whom he remarked, "Thanks for lighting our set, Mr Mayor." Why did he say that? "Because that's what it's like there; it's as if somebody built a magnificent movie set and said, go shoot. It's so picturesque and stunningly romantic to look at," Gleeson explained. McDonagh clarified that statement by noting, "As the film progresses, Bruges becomes darker and its Gothic qualities come to the fore. The night scenes showcase that even earlier, such as when Ray happens upon the Hieronymus Bosch-inspired movie set." Production designer Michael Carlin ("The Last King of Scotland") adds, "The set echoes a Bosch painting that you glimpse elsewhere in the movie; which Ray is seeing. Bruges itself is a key character that changes throughout the story. It starts out as fairly benign, then becomes almost as sinister as Harry Waters." 2003 Irish Film and Television Award winner Colin Farrell ("S.W.A.T.") read the script and says he found himself "laughing out loud. But it was also heartbreaking because I think you really do care for each and every character. Pound for pound, it was the best thing I've ever read. Martin's got some brain on him. It's just brilliant, the characters and the situations; unique, and with amazing dialogue." So, did McDonagh, who cast Brendan Gleeson and his son Domhnall in 2004's Oscar winning (Best Short Film, Live Action) "Six Shooter", write the film with any particular actors in mind? "I didn't write the parts for anybody specifically. In fact, originally Ray and Ken were written as Londoners; I only changed them to Irish after we'd cast Colin and Brendan. Everything seemed to fall into place after that," says McDonagh, "their camaraderie, their antagonism towards Harry. And his thoghts on Gleeson? "One of Brendan's strengths as an actor is that he makes everything sound and seem so naturalistic, like he's just making it up on the spot. Also, his natural warmth and humanity, and his joy of life, shine through in most everything he does." By his own account, Gleeson was already pretty well-acquainted" with the writer/director, having starred for McDonagh in his Oscar-winning short film "Six Shooter" and being an admirer of his plays. "I cannot think of anybody, in any of his plays or his screenplays, whom you actively and completely despise. There is a soul to his work. It's robust yet delicate. You have this combination of the worst of humanity, speaking the most conscience-free dialogue, and yet," Gleeson says, "you leave with a feeling of connection to these people. The fact is they are all too human. A cynic can quite easily despise his characters and allow his audience to as well, dismissing them as being inhuman. The value of Martin's storytelling is that, however apparently inhuman the behaviour, all of it is borne out in the history of human beings. Watching one of his works, we find that we can't just disconnect and despise; we must engage with these people. That's a challenge and a very fine line for an actor." Farrell notes, "There is a purity to these characters, what with their humour and how they view the world. Yes, they bring death to people, but they're not black and white." "You don't expect to embrace these characters, to care what is going to happen to them: particularly Ken; here's a man who has killed many people, yet you come to feel for him, to value him as a person and as a mentor for Ray," says Broadbent, who also produced the acclaimed "Welcome to Sarajevo". "All the characters are looking for answers, each in his own way. By the close of the story, hopefully the viewer will have an understanding of what has driven them: the reasons behind the actions they have taken, including those prior to their time in Bruges," McDonagh adds. Does that mean Ray and Ken knew each other well? "Ken and Ray did not know each other very well prior to the London hit, and now they are forced to live together in this strange place. After initially feeling ill at ease with each other and the city, they become close as they find things out about themselves and about each other." Broadbent offers. "In Ray we see someone who has danger in him, but is also sensitive, vulnerable and full of remorse; in many ways the opposite of the ruthless hit man we might have expected." It's a role tailor made for Farrell who played bad-boy Lehiff in "Intermission" and Bullseye in "Daredevil". "Ray had to be dangerous and unpredictable, but also sensitive and dark and almost despairing at times. I'd seen Colin do dangerous and unpredictable before, and as soon as we met up and talked over the character, I knew he had all those other things in spades too," says McDonagh. "But it takes a lot of guts and talent to put all those sadder and more vulnerable aspects up on-screen: and I think Colin did that brilliantly." "While this is a film about hit men and their violence, loyalty, and honour, Martin also catches the innocence in them and accords them great affection. This is most easily seen in the relationship between Ken and Ray. We see that they really care for each other. Ultimately, Ken offers; and is offered; the opportunity for redemption," Broadbent notes. "That's where Brendan is so key to this film. He conveys great strength and compassion, and shows you that a warm-hearted hit man does not have to be a contradiction in terms." For his part, Gleeson feels that "standing up for Ray in this city, at this time, liberates Ken to be able to envision hope and faith again for his own existence; one that has been so full of violence, which he's very good at, for so many years. He does what he does for Ray because he's been given the gift, from this young lad, of hope." Of Ken's relationship with Harry, McDonagh revealed, "They share a past. Harry is a very dangerous individual, yet there is an intimacy to his friendship with Ken, and a trust stemming from a sense of loyalty between them." "Harry is violent and aggressive in his approach to things, but with Ralph playing him, you see the nuances that Martin layered into the character," says Farrell, "and he's very funny as well." 1994 BAFTA Film Award winner Ralph Fiennes ("Schindler's List") elaborates: "Harry has sent these two to Bruges as part of his own private reckoning. He intends to balance the books in his moral universe; which is quite a violent one." Ralf (pronounced rafe) Fiennes proved to be a brilliant choice. "For Harry, I wanted someone who hadn't done the archetypal working-class London gangster type a hundred times before. I wanted a very good actor who would have a different and more surprising take on it. It wasn't until I got on the set that I realized how bloody scary Ralph can be," McDonagh said. Broadbent says he too was impressed with the 2006 Evening Standard British Film Award ("The Constant Gardener") winner. "Ralph's performance shows you this chilling psychopath, but also the honour code that he has. Ralph had a lot of fun with Martin's dialogue and finding an accent with him for Harry's character." 2005 Golden FIPA winner Clémence Poésy (who played Fleur Delacour in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") was cast as Chloë. "I think Chloë is maybe the only positive aspect of Ray's life at a certain point in the story. There's a spark between them, and he realizes, well maybe I have got something: someone to live for. Reading the script was like entering Martin's universe,with things you've never heard or seen, and I just wanted to be a tiny part of it. The first read-through was so enjoyable in and of itself. On the set, Martin has a great sense of humour and makes you feel that you're creating something together." Thekla Reutenwas ("De Tweeling") who was cast as the pregnant hotel owner Marie revealed, "I'd seen some of Martin's plays translated and staged in Holland. As a filmmaker, Martin kept an eye on everything and everyone without losing his concentration." Jérémie Rénier ("Atonement"), who plays Chloë's potentially dangerous ex-boyfriend Eirik didn't have to travel far to work on the film. "I'm from Brussels, so I didn't have far to go for this movie, which was helping not only Bruges but also the Belgian film industry." With unprecedented cooperation and support from Bruges, burgomaster Patrick Moenaert, and hundreds of locals as extras, filming started in February 2007 and was completed in just two months. Above images of Bruges copyright 2008 www.planetware.com Synopsis

Bruges, the most well-preserved medieval city in the whole of Belgium, is a welcoming destination for travellers from all over the world. But for hit men Ray and Ken, it could be their final destination; a difficult job has resulted in the pair being ordered right before Christmas by their London boss Harry to go and cool their heels in the storybook Flemish city for a couple of weeks. Very much out of place amidst the gothic architecture, canals, and cobbled streets, the two hit men fill their days living the lives of tourists. Ray, still haunted by the bloodshed in London, hates the place, while Ken, even as he keeps a fatherly eye on Ray's often profanely funny exploits, finds his mind and soul being expanded by the beauty and serenity of the city. But the longer they stay waiting for Harry's call, the more surreal their experience becomes. When the call from Harry does finally come, Ken and Ray's vacation becomes a life-and-death struggle of darkly comic proportions and surprisingly emotional consequences.

The Verdict "A cracker-jack film. Laurence Olivier Award winning playwright Martin McDonagh ("The Pillowman") makes his feature film directing and writing debut in a career defing and most spectacular way. Filled with dark humour, colorful characters and, very strong language that somehow never seems to offend, "In Bruges" is destined for cinema cult status. Setting the film in Bruges was a masterstroke as was the casting of Gleeson and Farrell as the two, 'holidaying' hit-men. It's hard to fault a film, most cinemagoers will find so remarkably entertaining. The supporting cast are well-cast, while the film's mood is beautifully enhanced by award winning composer, Carter Burwell's score. In years to come, when film fans talk about the most noteworthy films in the of the 'crime genre', "In Bruges" will be mention along with films such as Guy Ritchies "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels"; Quentin Tarantino's "Pulp Fiction"; Barry Sonnenfeld's "Get Shorty", and the more recent British crime caper "The Bank Job". Very, very, entertaining. "In Bruges" never disappoints. 4 1/2 STARS." Crew Bytes "IN BRUGES" was .......
directed by Martin McDonagh ["Six Shooter" and "In Bruges"]; screenplay by Martin McDonagh ["Six Shooter" and "In Bruges"]; art direction by Chris Lowe ["The Life and Death of Peter Sellers", "The Constant Gardener" and "The Golden Compass"]; costume design by Jamie Temime ["The Commissioner", "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason", "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Children of Men"]; production design by Michael Carlin ["Fever Pitch", "Wallis & Edward" and "The Duchess"]; edited by 1994 American Cinema Editors 'EDDIE" Award winner Jon Gregory ["Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Ned Kelly", "The Proposition" and "Penelope"]; cinematography by Eigil Bryld ["Charlie Butterfly", "Kinky Boots" and "Becoming Jane"]; original music by 1998, 2000 & 2002 ASCAP Award winner Carter Burwell ["Conspiracy Theory", "The General's Daughter" and "The Rookie"]. Who's Who

Colin Farrell Brendan Gleeson Ralph Fiennes Elizabeth Berrington Rudy Blomme Olivier Bonjour Mark Donovan Ann Elsley Jean-Marc Favorin Eric Godon Zeljko Ivanek Stephanie Carey Sachi Kimura Anna Madeley Clémence Poésy Jordan Prentice Jérémie Renier Thekla Reuten Theo Stevenson Inez Stinton Emily Thorling Bonnie Witney Angel Witney Louis Nummy Ran Yaniv Jamie Edgell Ciarán Hinds

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Ray Ken Harrys Natalie Ticket Seller Film Director Overweight Man Overweight Woman #2 Policeman Yuri Canadian Guy Canadian Girl Imamoto Denise Chloë Jimmy Eirik Marie Boy in Church Kelli Overweight Woman Harry's Child #1 Harry's Child #2 Harry's Child #3 Barman Boat Driver Priest

Run Time 108 minutes Rated MA15+ [AUST] Copyright ©2008 - Icon Film Distribution - All Rights Reserved ©2008 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian, International, Copyright & Trademark Laws.