Life and Death In Bruges

Bruges at Christmas time. A lovely medieval preserved town with a festive spirit and now blessed with two hit men laying low at a quaint hotel. How can one react to this movie? In Bruges is a treat!!

Characterization and the characters are superb. Dialogue is witty and fast paced. The scenery of Bruges is shot magnificently. There are little 10 second vignette shots that work very well. The movie follows the two hit men taking refuse following a botched job. The hunker down to await a call. As Vladimir and Estragon, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleason) adopt entertainly different approaches to their enforced tourism. Maybe its just the Irish way, but I feel some Beckett here.

This is Colin Farrell at his best. I haven’t been a fan in the past, but can’t help but applaud his performance in this one. He is emotive, totally empathetic and draws you right into his character. Ray is deeply troubled, but he has a gritty reserve and a bubbling temper and perfect chemistry with Brendan Gleason’s Ken. As Ray decides whether he can suffer an overheard slight, the inner tension is is delivered without suggesting that he’s being coached through it. He is Ray, and he is right on the edge.

Brendan Gleason is always good. I have never seen him in a role I didn’t appreciate. Together, Gleason’s reflective, halting, and calm delivery matches supremely with Farrell’s stacatto, disdainful, remorseful, banter. Especially when he steps out of it and loses it with Ray. It reinforces the truth of his performance. The development of the Ken’s character is a joy to observe. Starting from the unquestioned loyal lackey, he snaps during the story arc of the plot discovers himself. I saw a whole new side of Gleason in this film.

Ralph Feinnes gets just enough screen time to make a role, but Ciarán Hinds momentary appearance, although an important plot points seems strangely under exploited (yes, Rome is my reference point for Hinds).

The facts of the case are teased out at a perfect pace – little nuggets dropped here and there, often in an underplayed fashion. Clearly its about redemption, and considering (or reconsidering) ones’ own life principles. Although there is outright Canadian bashing, it’s just exactly what a Canadian would do and the bashing (literal as well as figurative) is deserved.

Best line: “If I’d grown up on a farm and was retarded, Bruges might impress me, but I didn’t, so it doesn’t.” You laugh at things that you wouldn’t outside of a darkened theatre, and although you see Gleason’s penultimate moment approaching, it is timed and choreographed with brilliant attention to the craft (I wasn’t laughing at that one by the way).There are some violent scenes in the movie and I have yet to quite figure out why they are as graphic as they are. No, still don’t have a considered answer for that – still thinking. And in that this is a cool flick. It does make you think and ponder, and yet has you laughing, and following the action (and often inaction that makes you wonder too).

I give this a 4 for 5. Brilliantly acted, very well written and directed and an absolutely satisfying. No lesson, no positive message, although the selfless acts do add a real warmth to the movie. But what can I possibly say credibly, last time I was in Bruges I watched King Ralph in Dutch – yes the height of culture 😉

Thanks to Will for the hint to go catch this one. I pass it along.