|
Set against a backdrop of church spires and canals, In Bruges is a jet-black comic thriller that tells the tale of two Dublin hit men who find themselves on an unscheduled sightseeing tour of the city. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play Ray and Ken – the first is a fledgling trigger man uneasy with his career choice, the second a seasoned killer with a taste for culture. Their dialogue and interplay is what makes this, playwright Martin McDonagh’s debut feature, such a terrific film. Farrell’s performance is frankly – and surprisingly – triumphant. As Ray he’s explosive: with eyebrows contorting like caterpillars at war, he’s a self-destructive cocktail of testosterone and crushing guilt. Gleeson is also superb as the older mentor, determined to make the most of this short foreign junket. Alas, his efforts to civilise Ray fall flat. Drugs, guns and booze enter the equation – and Ralph Fiennes cuts a lethal shine as the sinister Harry, the boss back home whose cockney drawl haunts the two Irishmen throughout their trip.
|
