In Bruges

COLLIN FARRELL and Brendan Gleeson in "In Bruge."


'In Bruges' funny, if you get past blood

For Star Beacon WEEKENDER for Jan. 23, 2009

"In Bruges" is about as funny as a movie can be that has to do with a bloody contract killing and children being murdered.
Collin Farrell plays Ray, an Irish hit man who accidently kills an innocent boy.
So he and his partner, Ken (Brendan Gleeson), are sent away for awhile, apparently until the heat dies down.
The boss is Harry, played by Ralph Fiennes.
Well, Harry is as homicidal and blood-thirsty as the next guy, but shows his humanity, too. He decides the boys need to lay low somewhere nice, but cheap, too. So he decides on Bruges, which narrator Harry admits he didn't even know where it was.
Bruges is a fairy-tale type of city in Belgium, steeped in history, with its canal and cobblestone streets and gothic architecture and great beauty.
But it's all sort of lost on Ray. Sure he's a killer, but he's also unintentionally funny. It's Christmas and the pair end up in a quaint bed and breakfast type of boarding house with a spectacular view. But they have to share a room and may end up there a few weeks until Harry gives further instructions.
Ken absorbs the history and beauty, Ray wants to drink.
There's a funny scene early on in which Ray is sitting out on a park bench after taking the narrow, meandering stairs to a rooftop site. Three fat Americans stop in front of him while staring at a map. Ray, actually trying to me helpful, warns they are too fat and too wide to make the trip. When the American man tries to chase Ray, Ray simply side steps the man until he is worn out from the meager chase.
The dialogue, while thick in Irish accident, is pretty pointed and funny, too.
Ray acquires a girlfriend (Clemence Posy) who doesn't seem to mind when he takes all of her drugs. He also hangs with Jimmy (Jordan Prentice), an American dwarf who is making a movie. He also parties with Dutch prostitutes, who do better in Bruges.
When the Fiennes character barks orders, they aren't what the soft-hearted Ken wants to hear. Well, as soft-hearted as a paid killer can be.
The film creates lots of twists and turns. The turns get bizarre, but you won't be bored.
Director Martin McDonagh, who also wrote the script, will keep you guessing.
This film is rated R. It has plenty of violence to go with its history lesson.
If you aren't offended by language and kids being shot down in the street, you'll like "In Bruges."

IN BRUGES
Directed and written by Martin McDonagh
Runtime: 107 minutes
Rating: R for strong, bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.
4 stars out of 5
It is airing on Cinemax