In Bruges in three words: well worth seeing.
It’s pretty slow at the start and some of the acting jarred for reasons I can’t put my finger on, but the characters are a lot of fun to watch and the story does draw you in. I think I’d enjoy it more on a second viewing – it’s one of those films that isn’t quite what you’re expecting it to be, so it can be hard to just relax and enjoy it the first time around.
I’m not sure what exactly constitutes “an Irish film”, but the writer/director and the two main* characters** are Irish and that’s good enough for me. So I feel comfortable saying: In Bruges is unusual for an Irish film, in much the same way that a book that isn’t about cottages in the 50s, that chick-lit story we seem to like, or The Seedy Underbelly Of The Celtic Tiger is unusual for an Irish novel. I mean, are we really allowed to write this kind of stuff? Are we allowed to… have fun?
* Warning: Poncey website.
** Warning: Impressive beard.
How poncey is that website…
Still – a decent movie with some heavy Irish input. (Not sure it qualifies as an ‘Irish’ movie though.)
Well the director… or maybe the writer, whichever, had a lay over in bruges for four days. The first day was great as he walked around the town, saw the sites of the only undamaged medieval town in Europe from WWI and WWII, etc.. Then he realised how fucking boring ass it was and had some surprisingly sleazy areas and this was the inspiration. (So I heard the story it is entirely possible it is bull shit.)
I just saw the film and I not only agree with your three words I will go further and say and say 6 words “best film so far this year”
Loved it, though i did get freaked out coming out of Cineworld. I kept thinking Ralph Fiennes was hunting me down and going to start shooting at me!
Loved it.
I really need to say more on this thing.
This is the kind of stuff that should go on the DVD sleeve:
“Well worth seeing” – Colm O’Brien.
“best film so far this year” – Johnny
“Loved it” – A. Gaff
That’d make me buy it.
“a decent movie” – David Maybury