I can’t think of a time when I had laughed louder, by myself no less, than when watching this brutal and hilarious film. The cast is great and the setting uneasy, and the humor is prickly and skewered, all tightly wrapped in an International climate of mistrust.
Colin Farrell and Bendan Gleeson lead the cast as two down on their luck Irish hit men laying low in Bruges, Belgium (which they can’t ever remember) while waiting on their next mark. Form here the comedy ensues and only occasionally lets up and allows for a genuinely beautiful tale of morality to shine. It is refreshing to see Farrell as an Irishman again, and he puts on quite a show. Gleeson is also terrific and is the Patriarch of their weird little relationship.
The comedy is really what makes this film resonate however and the laughs always come at some one’s expense, and there is never an apology for it. This is a very European comedy and makes no bones about the distaste for American culture and the issues that we deem so mighty. Race wars, obesity, and the lack of respect for life are all dealt with, in a way that makes you think. Great stuff, as I said before I very rarely laugh out loud at any movie, comedy or otherwise, but this one’s sharp irreverence really got me.
Ralph Fiennes also deserves honorable mention as his timing and comedic prowess were on full display. Great to see such a usual stuff-shirt dramatic actor go ape on a telephone.
If you are a fan of action comedy, see this. If you like the Irish see this. If you were born, see this.
[rating:5.0]
Popularity: 19% [?]
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