Pretty Good

Highly Overrated But Still Good

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

"In Bruges" is a charming, yet dark film. It rides the line of comedy and drama. It is a film that is sure to keep you on your toes. The storytelling is of a rare breed in modern cinema, and because of this it is easy to appreciate.-Analysis of Notable Work- *Writing/Directing: The absurdity of the story of Ray and Ken is what makes it so charming. Two dangerous men spend some time together in a quaint town called Bruges after a job goes wrong. It all seems a bit peculiar but oddly it feels real. It is humorous and unprofessional, but seems as if these characters are real. We are drawn in an easily invested into their situation. Martin McDonagh keeps the tone under wraps all throughout the film. When something gets to be too ridiculous, he tones it down and brings some seriousness to the scene. When things get too serious for their own good he brings in some more ridiculous humor. He is in total command of the tone of the film and he nails it all the way through. *Cinematography/Editing: The look of the film is one of bleakness and beauty, mirroring the views of Ray and Ken. Eigil Bryld ties these two worldviews together visually in such a beautiful manner. The sequencing of the film is high energy. There is never a dull moment or lapse in storytelling. Each scene pushes into the next and is filled with wonderful moments. *Dialogue/Acting: Here is yet another fantastic part of the film. There are lovely quips all throughout the film, but they do not feel forced or out of place. They add to the absurdity of the film, but also its charm. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are a wonderful on screen pair. They had remarkable chemistry and they very much brought the film to life. Ralph Fiennes plays a dangerous and inconsistent crime boss. He shifts from stupidity to sternness in a split second and it is incredible. *Music/Sound: Perhaps one of the low points of the film, the music doesn't always seem to fit the mood of what is being portrayed on screen. Although, this could just be another aspect of the chaotic story we are presented with. The sound design is full of beauty and ugliness. There are a few scenes that turn out poorly for our heroes, and the sound design adds to the level of pain we feel. *Production Design/Special Effects: The sets and locations of Bruges are a marvel to behold. They are full of wonder while still being rather bland. The special effects are adequate for the film. They draw no attention to themselves, positive or negative, save one rather gruesome scene.*Conclusion: "In Bruges" is a film of great wonder and excitement, but also bleakness. There is much to ponder about after viewing it. It is a crazy ride all the way through and is one that is sure to be enjoyed by audiences with a quirky taste.

I knew nothing about In Bruges except that it takes place in Bruges, Belgium, and yet I was completely surprised by it. 10 minutes in and I was beginning to get the sense that I was not going to like this film much. It took a while longer but slowly I was drawn into the story and started to care a little bit about the characters. A few more story twists later and I was engaged, and before I knew it the film had finished. There are quite a few problems with In Bruges but despite all of them I actually I did enjoy it. It's humor is often times dark (which a lot of folks don't get/like in general) some of the scenes are contrived, and there's quite a bit of killing for a film that is in large part a comedy. So if you're the type of person open to all of those elements in the same film, see it, if you're not one of those folks then stay away.

This is a great film. The characters are brilliantly acted and written. Even the characters with little screen time have so much subtleties and mannerisms that I loved. Martin McDonoughs first feature film, and a great one at that. It will have you thinking about it days after you finish it.If you mostly watch big budget action movies. (which is fine there's no shame in it), and you haven't seen many other types of movies, I would highly recommend you see this, or if you just love film in general check it out on YouTube... someone literally uploaded the entire thing. Just watch it now, what your doing isn't more important. Ya dickhead

In Bruges is the story of two British hitmen lying low in Bruges, Belgium after an assassination goes wrong. This movie is a perfect balance of comedy and depression. Martin Mcdonough seamlessly transitions from heavy subjects like child murder, and suicide, to goofs and gags and fat Americans. Several scenes are simultaneously heartbreaking and hilarious. There is also a masterful handling of reincorporation that is quite reminiscent of Hot Fuzz. There were several scenes in this movie that seemed to just be one-off jokes, but eventually affected the plot and characters in profound ways later on. The characters were all very distinct and fleshed out, and it's been a long time since I genuinely cared about fictional people so much. The plot is absolutely one hundred percent pitch perfect. It is meticulously balanced on the scale of unpredictability and poetic beauty. On the far left of this scale lies something like Game of Thrones, where main characters are killed left and right with no satisfying conclusion to their arch. On the far right is Star Wars, where the story is neat and satisfying, but anyone who has seen a movie in their life knows exactly what will happen ten minutes in. In Bruges is somehow far left and far right at the same time. The plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, and it doesn't stop until the very end. Yet, in the midst of this untidy anarchistic plot, a clear lesson and meaning still arises.