In Bruges

In Bruges is a black comedy that takes the time to develop its characters and get the viewer emotionally involved in the story.  I've never been a fan of Colin Farrel but if he did more work like this things could change.  Brendan Gleeson, on the other hand, is merely great as usual.

The movie seemed billed as an action comedy in trailers, but it's much more of a black comedy/crime drama.  There is some action in it, but it's not a particularly fast-paced affair; most of the entertainment comes from the dialog and character interaction.

As with most black comedies, there are some zany situations that will most likely have you laughing now and then, even when something serious is going on.  There are also a fair amount of serious emotional moments that aren't played for laughs. The central theme of the story is that of rookie hitman Ray (Farrel) trying to cope with a botched job- his first job.  His friend and mentor Ken (Gleeson) is trying to help him cope with his mistakes and the life they've chosen to lead.

There have been a lot of movies about hitmen, and many of them have been about hitmen struggling to come to terms with their particular lifestyle.  In Bruges does a better job of this than most—witness the pair's reactions as they view art depicting torture, and many other small touches.  It's the best acting I've seen from Farrel by far.  The interaction between Ray and Ken brings a lot heart to the film.

Ralph Fiennes is also good as their hard-ass boss, Harry.  Most of his work comes late in the film, but it adds another layer that works well.

Lest you think the film is all about all about talking and feelings, there's a fair amount of content that is definitely not politically correct, including significant drug use, midget karate abuse, and violence.

Bruges itself is a great backdrop, viewed alternately as touristy vacation spot with charming old-world towers and canals, or in Ray's opinion as purgatory—one boring step away from hell.

In Bruges may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like your comedy black and your characters to have some actual character I recommend it highly.  I can only hope playwright-turned-director Martin McDonagh makes more films that are this good.