Colin Farrell (left) and Brendan Gleeson (right) play gangster stooges in ''In Bruges.'' (Courtesy photo)

By Bob Polunsky
Movie Critic

“In Bruges” is quite a trip. It’s a modern day film about hit men that’s set in the ancient Belgian city where some of most picturesque medieval buildings still stand. The film takes advantage of the atmosphere by developing characters to contrast with it and thereby get more attention.

The stars are Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, two typical hoodlum types sent to Bruges by Harry (Ralph Fiennes), their criminal boss.  Ray (Farrell) thinks Bruges is Dullsville until he meets Chloe (Clemence Poesy) and falls in love with her. He doesn’t know it yet, but his partner, Ken (Gleeson), is supposed to kill him for not doing the job he was sent to do in London.

In a cleverly staged scene, the two men realize the obvious approach of their fateful encounter and are able to avoid mutual murder. Ken dutifully calls Harry and tells him that he didn’t follow through, leading to an angry encounter.

It’s a complicated set of circumstances that literally explodes in their faces. Before that happens, they come to terms with the dangerous lives they lead, and their misadventures are handled more as comedy than melodrama.

Since the stars include Farrell, Gleeson and Fiennes, the comedy comes through in their personalities. This way it’s a spoof of hit man movies more than a routine gangster film. The upshot is that it’s fun to watch in spite of plot but because of its talented cast and the gorgeous Bruges backdrop.

The chief laugh-getter is Ralph Fiennes as Harry, the head bad guy. He literally calls all the shots, and both Ray and Ken are his stooges more than his henchmen. They have too many pangs of conscience to be effective hit men, so you’re not likely to take them seriously. If anything, you’ll cheer Ray for his romance with Chloe and applaud Ken for being too softhearted to be a cold-blooded killer, even when his life depends on it.

In spite of its theme of murder and vengeance, “In Bruges” is more of an arty gangster film. Its comic scenes don’t consist of slapstick like most spoofs, mainly because performers known best for their dramatic skills instead of those known best for their comedy timing. They come through like pros and get laughs in spite of themselves.

The sights and sounds of colorful Bruges give the action scenes credibility simply because the city itself serves as a backdrop for a serving of good, old-fashioned ham. The players have a good time playing good hit man/bad hit man. The stern-faced delivery of dialogue sounds sinfully sincere, but the characters are likable that it’s practically impossible not to laugh with them instead of at them.

Granted, it is arty, but it has performers to pull it off with a sense of humor. It also provides a good look at a real-life city of charm and beauty that survived the kind of violence it dramatizes.  

Studio rating: R for violence, drugs and language
Bob says: “Not realistic, but fun” ***
3 Star