Cocaine-induced racist tirades from thespian midgets, murderous skinhead bum-boys, a medieval setting and a performance from Ralph Fiennes that knocks Ben Kingsley’s performance in ‘Sexy Beast’ out of the water. Just a few of the nuggets of genius to be found in this masterpiece of absurdity from new directorslashplaywright McDonagh.
“What did I do to deserve this?” the film’s young protagonist Ray (played by a sterling Colin Farrell) asks his world-weary cohort Ken as the two find themselves stuck in the medieval landscape of Bruges, awaiting instructions from big boss Harry (played by Fiennes with terrifying finesse). What have they done? is indeed the question we are asked to ponder as we follow the personal journeys the pair undergo whilst being stuck in Bruges. Cue some of the darkest, wittiest humour seen on the big screen in years.
Farrell gives possibly the finest performance of his career so far as the guilt ridden Ray, a character trying desperately hard to ignore the moral consequences of a terrible mistake. Trying to help him come to terms with what he has done is his partner Ken (played with gravitas by Brendan Gleeson), who is struggling to find a path between his loyalty to Harry and his desire for Ray’s redemption. Harry, however, has other plans. And if Ken won’t fulfil his responsibilities, then Harry will have to do it for him.
So begins a cat and mouse game to rival a Marx Brothers film, through ancient churches, bell towers, canals and, of course, pubs. The dialogue is razor sharp and the director’s theatrical origins shine through in the detail of the character’s psychologies and in their interactions with each other. The relationship between the tormented Ray and his mentor Ken is nothing less than heartbreaking, and Harry’s ferocity is nail-biting. Action builds steadily and slowly, giving the audience time to enjoy the characters and the scenery, before the impending denouement which we know is coming, but resist acknowledging in the same way the central characters do.
We, like Ray, would much rather have a gay beer with a beautiful girl (played by Clemence Poesy of Harry Potter fame) than think about his impending day of judgement. This is a wonderful film, equal parts tender, comic and bloody tragic. So I’ll have a gay beer please, and if the racist midget doesn’t do it for you, then I don’t know what will.
randomcrusader 