Ben Oliver

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film

In Bruges

Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf. I think I’m heading home.
02 July 2014

Watching The Guard made me want to go back and watch this. I’m glad I did.

In Bruges places two hitmen, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson… in Bruges. They are left to stew there and told to ‘quietly sightsee’ until they receive orders from their boss.

It’s got a black-as-tar sense of humour that’s not to everyone’s taste, but it never fails to get a laugh out of me.

I’m a bit of a sucker for films that trap characters in a place then sit back and see what happens. It’s a real test of how good the characters are. Here it works because Farrell and Gleeson have an on-screen chemistry that’s charming and true.

The plot is unpredictable and funny in itself, the direction is slick and doesn’t distract from the dialogue and the cinematography captures the essence of a town I know and love, especially in the winter.

A modern classic.

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