"In Bruges"

[ThelmaLou]

I caught this film "In Bruges" today on cable. Has anyone seen it?

It's probably THE darkest comedy I've ever seen-- equal parts darkness and comedy. Quirky, bitter, sad, warm in parts. Got an 85 on Rotten Tomatoes.

[Colibri]

I absolutely loved the film. Great atmosphere and details. Although Colin Farrell won a Golden Globe for best actor, I thought Brendan Gleeson was great too.

[Harborwolf]

I've seen it. Great movie. One of my favorites.

Here's some good news. The director, Martin McDonagh, has a new movie coming out that looks incredible. I give you Seven Psychopaths.

[MostlyClueless]

Frickin' awesome movie, for all the reasons already in the OP.

[minlokwat]

Great movie. Fortunately -for me anyway- when I saw it, I had no idea who was in the cast.

When Ken takes the call from Harry, I was trying to place the actor's voice but couldn't quite do it. When it's revealed that it's Ralph Fiennes, one of my favorites, I thought it was freakin' awesome.

The movie's also got some great lines.

One of my favorites: *POW* "That's for John Lennon!"

[ThelmaLou]

I forgot to mention that it takes place at Christmas... although it's not likely to be the film you watch in your pajamas while sipping hot chocolate amid the wrapping paper and ribbons...

It might hold the record for the most instances of "fuck" and its derivations. And I know it's the funniest (ironically) use of the word "cunt" in dialogue between Ralph Fiennes (Harry) and Brendan Gleeson (Ken) at the outdoor cafe.

The quotes page on the IMDB is one of the longest I've ever seen.

ETA: Full of great lines, such as, "You can't sell horse tranquilizers to a midget."

[Crawlspace]

A classmate recommended it to me when it first came out on DVD. I think I watched it 3 or 4 times over the course of a 3 day weekend.

What I love about it is that it's not just a funny movie with a dark premise, but a movie with dark jokes about a variety of things.

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

ETA: Full of great lines, such as, "You can't sell horse tranquilizers to a midget."

"A lot of midgets tend to kill themselves. A disproportionate amount, actually."

[John Mace]

Really enjoyed it.

[lisiate]

Great movie, loved it.

If you liked In Bruges chances are you'll like The Guard as well. It was written and directed by John McDonagh, brother of In Bruges' Martin, and also stars Brendan Gleeson (along with Don Cheadle). Very, very funny movie.

[Equipoise]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

I forgot to mention that it takes place at Christmas... although it's not likely to be the film you watch in your pajamas while sipping hot chocolate amid the wrapping paper and ribbons...

Hey, I'd do it. Backed by a chaser of Bad Santa too.

Love this movie a lot, I do. Here's a pretty good previous thread. As I said in that thread, I was lucky enough to see a sneak preview before it hit the theaters, and the writer/director Martin McDonagh was there answering questions. He was very nice and funny.

A HUGELY strong +1 for The Guard! I saw it 4 or 5 times in the theater. I'm also looking forward to Seven Psychopaths. I saw the preview in the theater last week and whooped when I realized what it was. Those brothers are going to give us much entertainment over the next few decades.


"It's a fairytale town, isn't it? How's a fairytale town not somebody's fucking thing? "

[ThelmaLou]

Originally Posted by Equipoise

Love this movie a lot, I do. Here's a pretty good previous thread. "

Oooo... thanks for the link to the older thread.

[Drain Bead]

The midget is Peter Dinklage, who went on to win an Emmy for Game of Thrones.

Hilarious movie. I watched it after my husband saw how highly-rated it was on IMDB for a movie he'd never heard of.

[Ian D. Bergkamp]

Originally Posted by Drain Bead

The midget is Peter Dinklage, who went on to win an Emmy for Game of Thrones.

It's actually Jordan Prentice, though I can see some resemblance.

Fantastic movie.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Drain Bead

The midget is Peter Dinklage, who went on to win an Emmy for Game of Thrones.
.

I used to mix up those guys as well. It's not just looks; it's the way they act that is so similar. He does a great job in the movie.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Loved it as well. It has taken some backlash lately from folks who didn't like it as much as others, but I think that was because it was one of those movies that took off after being in the theaters.

Anyway, it was on TV today and I caught as much of it as I could. Love the movie. One of the best dark comedies I've seen lately, and I thought Ralph Fiennes was great in the movie also.

I saw this movie without knowing who was in it or what it was about. I love it when I watch a movie like that and the movie is a home run.

I am seriously trying to arrange a trip to Bruges when my kid gets older.

[Colibri]

As the commentary on the DVD says, Bruges itself becomes one of the characters in the film. Gleeson's character (and Fiennes) loves it, Farrell hates it.

Ken: Ray, you are about the worst tourist in the whole world.
Ray: Ken, I grew up in Dublin. I love Dublin. If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me but I didn't, so it doesn't.

Ray: Maybe that's what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent in fucking Bruges.

Chloë: There's never been a classic movie made in Bruges until now.
Ray: Of course there hasn't. It's a shithole.
Chloë: Bruges is my home town, Ray.
Ray: Well, it's still a shithole.
Chloë: It's not a shithole!
Ray: What? Even midgets have to take drugs to stick it.

[River Hippie]

Loved it.

[ultrafilter]

Originally Posted by Stink Fish Pot

Anyway, it was on TV today and I caught as much of it as I could.

That must've been a different experience.

[Alka Seltzer]

Great film.

Had a trip to Bruges a couple years back. Went up the tower, and while we were climbing it:

SPOILER:

We passed several people speculating where Ken had jumped from.

[Raguleader]

"They're filming midgets!"

Ray reminded me of a room mate I had years back. Very twitchy, bit random, somewhat grumpy. The room mate wasn't an Irish assassin to the best of my knowledge though.

[Wendell Wagner]

ThelmaLou writes:

> It's probably THE darkest comedy I've ever seen-- equal parts darkness and
> comedy.

Have you seen the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove or the 1985 film After Hours? I think those are the best dark comedies I've ever seen. In Bruges comes pretty close, I admit.

Bruges has a reputation of being a classically pretty city. Its citizens are proud that it has kept most of its medieval architecture intact. It gets a lot of its tourism just from the look of the city.

[Novelty Bobble]

I live about an hour's drive away from Bruges (plus a channel crossing) and have been a few times. The film captured the city really well and any film with Colin Farrell Karate-chopping a dwarf deserves all the plaudits coming to it.
And though it is slapstick here and there, it is also thoughtful and sentimental. Though I can't know for sure, at least I now think I have a bit more of an insight to the tortured world of the hit-man.

[ThelmaLou]

Originally Posted by Wendell Wagner

ThelmaLou writes:

> It's probably THE darkest comedy I've ever seen-- equal parts darkness and
> comedy.

Have you seen the 1964 film Dr. Strangelove or the 1985 film After Hours? I think those are the best dark comedies I've ever seen. In Bruges comes pretty close, I admit.

I saw Dr. Strangelove when it came out in 1964. It has not aged well, alas. Also saw After Hours. I think the fact that there's so much actual killing AND blood in In Bruges kicks up the Darkness score. Love to hear more suggestions in this genre.

[DMark]

Loved the film...and for a short time, I was my older brother's go-to guy when searching for films to see on NetFlix...so I suggested this film, not knowing how he would like it.
He still thanks me today for suggesting it and thought it was great!

[Accidental Martyr]

I agree with all the positive comments about In Bruges and The Guard. I rented both when they came out and really enjoyed them.

[Stink Fish Pot]

Originally Posted by ThelmaLou

I saw Dr. Strangelove when it came out in 1964. It has not aged well, alas. Also saw After Hours. I think the fact that there's so much actual killing AND blood in In Bruges kicks up the Darkness score. Love to hear more suggestions in this genre.

ThelmaLou - I will suggest two for now. The Ice Harvest, with John Cusack, Billy Bob Thorton, and Oliver Platt, to name a few. One of my personal favorites.

Also, another John Cusack movie that falls in this category is Grosse Pointe Blank.

[Equipoise]

ThelmaLou, please take our urgings seriously. You will (very probably) really love The Guard. It's black as night, and so very funny. Not better than In Bruges, but they sit on the shelf together. Fittingly, of course, since they were made by brothers. They must have had an interesting childhood! If you can make it past the shocking opening (where some people at one screening I was at walked out), and the part where a seemingly dumb but extremely smart and sly Brendan Gleeson is trying to get under Don Cheadle's skin with some racist comments (where a few other people walked out), you're home free.

[MeanOldLady]

Ralph Fiennes played favorite film character in a very long time. The cunt wife and kids dialogue cracked me up. I saw "In Bruges" on Netflix, and when I was done watching it, I replayed that scene so I could laugh some more. Also, the gun bit slew me. "An Uzi? I'm not from South Central Los fucking Angeles. I didn't come here to shoot twenty black ten year olds in a drive-by. I want a normal gun for a normal person." Ha!

[sparky!]

I love In Bruges!

I don't see it on Netflix or iTunes

[ThelmaLou]

I will absolutely get The Guard. I promise.

Originally Posted by MeanOldLady

Also, the gun bit slew me. "An Uzi? I'm not from South Central Los fucking Angeles. I didn't come here to shoot twenty black ten year olds in a drive-by. I want a normal gun for a normal person." Ha!

I loved it when Ken and Harry are talking about the gun dealer (Sigi or something) at the cafe and shaking their heads over what a character he is, and Harry (Feinnes) says, "He does yoga," and Ken nods sagely.

For those who haven't seen it, Sigi's apartment is this lavishly decorated place with lots of texture and brocade, and oriental rugs, and art and beautiful furniture.... I mean, you can picture your rich grandmother living there and being served tea by a uniformed maid... except for the fact that every freaking horizontal and vertical surface is covered with guns of all imaginable and unimaginable kinds. "He does yoga."

[Rollo Tomasi]

Originally Posted by sparky!

I love In Bruges!

I don't see it on Netflix or iTunes

It's only available for rental on disc from Netflix, not streaming. It doesn't appear that iTunes has it for sale or rental.

[Shoeless]

Originally Posted by Rollo Tomasi

It's only available for rental on disc from Netflix, not streaming. It doesn't appear that iTunes has it for sale or rental.

Yeah, I just rented the DVD from Netflix about a month ago. I had seen it a couple of years ago and really wanted to see it again. Even my wife, who doesn't usually like movies with excessive violence or foul language, kind of enjoyed it.

The midget cracks me the hell up. One line in particular (from memory):

Ray: I didn't know they had prostitutes in Bruges.

Midget: You just have to know where to look. Brothels, for instance.

[An Gadaí]

Originally Posted by Accidental Martyr

I agree with all the positive comments about In Bruges and The Guard. I rented both when they came out and really enjoyed them.

I still haven't seen The Guard. Must give it a look. My sad claim to fame is I've sold books to Brendan Gleeson a couple of times. He seemed a tad grumpy.

[Mahaloth]

I assume we are all planning on seeing Seven Psycopaths, the upcoming movie from the same director? Also starring Colin Farrel again.

[Stink Fish Pot]

another dark comedy (not as good as In Bruges, but definitely has it's good qualities is Burn After Reading, a Cohen Brother movie.

It was hilarious at times, while exceedingly violent and vulgar in others.

Brad Pitt should have been given a nomination for best supporting actor in the movie. He made me laugh every time he was on the screen.

[Max the Immortal]

I liked it. The stoned talk about the imminent race war was pretty funny. It really captured that "Oh, so this conversation is happening now. Didn't see that coming, but okay." vibe rather well.

[Equipoise]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

I assume we are all planning on seeing Seven Psycopaths, the upcoming movie from the same director? Also starring Colin Farrel again.

Oh yes! Colin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, AND Tom Waits? A hard-core gangster black comedy about DOGnapping? Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh? Oh fuck yes indeed!


I love Burn After Reading too. It just keeps getting funnier and funnier every time I see it.

"You think that's a Schwinn?"

[lisiate]

I've added Seven Psycopaths to my movies to watch list.

Are you all saying Burn After Reading was a black comedy rather than a docudrama on the ineptitude of intelligence agencies ala The Men Who Stare at Goats? I loved it too.

[Siam Sam]

It's a great movie. And we saw it a short time after the wife had visited Bruges, so that was nice for her.

[Beastly Rotter]

You fucking retract that bit about my cunt fucking kids!

[Equipoise]

I think the Dope is drunk again. It has the hiccups.

[Accidental Martyr]

Originally Posted by An Gadaí

I still haven't seen The Guard. Must give it a look. My sad claim to fame is I've sold books to Brendan Gleeson a couple of times. He seemed a tad grumpy.

Gleeson is very good in The Guard. It's an odd character and he plays it well. I've always liked Don Cheadle too, and he also does a good job.

[Alka Seltzer]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

I assume we are all planning on seeing Seven Psycopaths, the upcoming movie from the same director? Also starring Colin Farrel again.

Thanks for the heads up, didn't realise it was out this month.

[Raguleader]

Originally Posted by Beastly Rotter

You fucking retract that bit about my cunt fucking kids!

I retract that bit about your cunt fucking kids.

[An Gadaí]

Originally Posted by Accidental Martyr

Gleeson is very good in The Guard. It's an odd character and he plays it well. I've always liked Don Cheadle too, and he also does a good job.

Gleeson is probably my favourite actor. He's got a great range and really puts his all into most roles he plays. I Went Down is another classic he starred in.

[Frylock]

Originally Posted by Rollo Tomasi

It's only available for rental on disc from Netflix, not streaming. It doesn't appear that iTunes has it for sale or rental.

Amazon has it streaming.

ETA: Never mind. They don't. I am almost certain they did just a few months ago though!

[kenobi 65]

Originally Posted by Rollo Tomasi

It doesn't appear that iTunes has it for sale or rental.

They did a couple of months ago; I rented it from iTunes then. I wonder what's up, since Frylock thinks that Amazon also had it previously, but doesn't any longer, either.

Fookin' Bruges.

[lost4life]

Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf...I'm heading home.

[tim-n-va]

Originally Posted by kenobi 65

Fookin' Bruges.

On the DVD, one of the extras was a series of outtakes of the various characters saying that line. It goes on so long that it stops being funny and then continues until it is funny again.

Either that or I'm just sick and twisted.

[MostlyClueless]

Conveniently, it's also available on youtube.

Fuckin' Bruges.