In Bruges - that town in Belgium

While this is the famous Lacemakers town in Belgium and often called the Venice of the North — Brugge is where we were very much planning to visit while in Paris earlier this year. But alas if only there was enough time… Apart from being all that Brugge, or In Brugges is also a recent film written and directed by Martin McDonagh starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes as the 3 main characters. Its a story of the likes of hit men and their daily tribulations when chores go wrong in a perfectly imperfect world. And when the jury is out on a job not done well, there is just one reply — one must mitigate and silence the past at any cost. There is no telling how ones life is going to end if they live by the gun… and In Bruges portrays that transient state of constant shuffle and disturbia and unsettled behaviour extremely well. The film keeps you on the edge of your seat constantly, with some emotions, limited humour, nihilism, a strong sense of amorality and plenty cocaine-talk. Fairly engaging but at times a bit dialogue heavy and with an overtone of xenophobia, In Bruges is one such journey where you get to see the very gritty side of life hit men often have but are not nearly exposed this openly.

The film bokeh in the movie scenes are to die for, especially those around the Gothic Bell tower. The cinematography is great and very real but its not without its share of follies too. Among the great scenes my picks are:

• That famous Belgian joke
  Colin Farrell telling his belgian date that Brugge is screwed and a ‘hell hole’ the only thing worth mentioning about Belgium is their chocolates and they make them to lure their kids and Belgians do have a lot of paedophiles. Ouch thats a hard joke on a date but a good one. And even Google agrees.
• F words — not sure this is a positive though
  The use of the ‘f’ word so often and random and so regularly that it didnt make me feel it was an offensive word anymore. Right up Gordon Ramsey’s alley.

Now on for some glaring omissions, clearly Martin McDonagh never studied science or understood the laws of gravity.

• Laws of Physics
  A burly man, Brendan Gleeson in this case falling off the peaks of the Gothic Bell tower on paved ground has the tenacity to speak few very clear sentences. The sound effect of the impact and the blood splatter were realistic but surely this is over drammatised..
• Homophobia
  You gotta laugh how straight men *think* they feel more secure and therefore powerful by showing gay men as weak and dumb. Ha! There are ample scenes in the movie that suggest this and you’d know if you have watched it. This sexual predilection and under-current could very well be compared with a few other trashy movies.
• Overdone and over twisted
  Okie, last but not the least. The ending is sheer pathetic. Colin Farrell swallows many bullets but he is good to walk, run, carry on for another 5 long minutes. So Bollywood. What an end to a seemingly good story

Would I recommend this to anyone? Hmmm yes I think so with a bit of caution though. The film looses it towards the end. Here’s hoping Martin McDonagh will get the laws of physics right one day!