In Bruges

If you still need proof that the first two movies directed by Quinten Tarantino are the most influential movies to be released since 1990, In Bruges is another movie that is heavily influenced by Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Those two movies were released in the early nineties and here we are in 2008 and we still get movies that probably would not exist without them. A playwright who made a short film two years ago that won the Oscar for short film, Director Martin McDonagh starts off his feature film career with a bang. Part Tarantino and part Mamet, McDonagh looks to have a long established career if his ego doesn't get the best of him (See Troy Duffy).

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are hit men who have been told to go to Bruges (which is in Belgium and doesn't have a bowling alley but has a Pizza Hut) after a hit to await further instructions. Ken is interested in the ancient architecture of Bruges and likes the calm peacefulness that surrounds the quaint little town. Ray on the other hand feels that " If I'd grown up on a farm and was retarded, Bruges might impress me, but I didn't, so it doesn't." Ray is a high strung, sarcastic, politically incorrect, handsome guy, but he is haunted by a secret. Ken is a slow moving, affable, bigger, older and wiser of the two men, and he is a mentor or father figure to Ray. While in Bruges, they spot a movie being made and Ray spots a very pretty girl, Chloe and a dwarf named Jimmy. Chloe and Ray go on a date that ends in two violent acts. However, he still likes the girl, but he steals some of the drugs she sells and ends up in a room with the dwarf and two hookers doing blow and discussing a future where a race war happens and all of the blacks fight all of the whites, including all the black dwarfs fighting all of the white dwarfs. It is all fun and games until we actually learn Ray's deep dark secret. It changes the mood of the movie, some what and it all culminates in a somewhat bloody, and very dark climax.

In Bruges is the perfect blend of silly humor, very dark humor and interesting story telling. Ken and Ray are very complex real characters and Farrell is exceptional as the younger hit man. I have always believed in him and am glad to see him get back to doing good work. He is incredibly hilarious in his line delivery, but his reactionary expressions are what help make this a flat out hilarious movie. Gleeson is the great mix of quiet and intense and really balances Farrell's high wire act. Ralph Fiennes shows up in person in the last 25 minutes and sets the screen on fire with his brutal big boss hit man. He doesn't have worlds of screen time but he really makes the most of it. Clemence Poesy as Chloe is a beautiful minx and while she doesn't have too much to do she is the character we seem to most identify with.

However, the real star of this movie is McDonagh. His dialog pops off the screen with hilarious and biting lines and his directing is top notch as his location shots really make Bruges a motionless character in the movie. He gets great performances and seems to always get the best shot. There is also an interesting morality tale at play here, but to say too much about it would give away the secret held within the story. Listening to hit men go on about morals is always interesting and with McDonagh's hyper literate hit men we really gain an understanding of what McDonagh was going for here. He never drowns us in lecturing because he is always ready with a joke to lighten any tense moment and he captures a brilliant climax that begins as an intense chase, shifts into absurdly hilarious, then transforms into something very dark and bloody before hitting another hilarious moment for the falling action. McDonagh also manages to be mostly politically incorrect without being terribly offensive to anyone, except fat people, but that scene is so incredibly funny that it is hardly mean spirited.

I am not going to lie, if I see 10 movies better than this later this year I might be a bit surprised. From the opening moment of dialog until the very last line, I was immensely entertained and laughing harder than I do in many movies that are just comedies. In mixing the intelligent humor with some great thrills, McDonagh has really proven himself as someone to watch in the future. It is almost a shame this movie has been buried in February, but I am highly recommending this movie to everyone who enjoys very smart, fast moving crime movies.

Final Grade: A