In Bruges

Starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, In Bruges follows a pair of disparate hitmen as they’re sent to the small Belgium town of Bruges to chill out following a particularly problematic job. There, the two (Farrell’s Ray and Gleeson’s Ken) spend their time sight-seeing and interacting with the locals – though the relaxing times come to a swift end with the appearance of their fearsome boss (Ralph Fiennes’ Harry). Writer/director Martin McDonagh, making his debut here, has infused the majority of In Bruges with a deliberately-paced, overly talky sensibility that undoubtedly reflects his background as a playwright, and it’s certainly difficult not to admire the fervor with which both Farrell and Gleeson tackle their respective characters and the film’s ample dialogue (the actors’ heavy accents does make it difficult to make out every word, admittedly). There does, however, reach a point at which the viewer begins to grow impatient for something of substance to happen, as, no matter how fascinating the characters may be, the increasingly languid atmosphere slowly-but-surely begins to lend the proceedings a distinct air of oppressiveness. Were it not for the inclusion of an unexpectedly eventful third act, anchored by Fiennes’ astoundingly entertaining (and undeniably broad) performance, the movie most likely wouldn’t fare quite as well as it ultimately does. McDonagh’s progressively intricate screenplay clearly plays a substantial role in the film’s late-in-the-game improvement, ensuring that, despite its flaws, In Bruges finally comes off as an uneven yet promising first effort.

*** out of ****