In Bruges (2008)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Martin McDonagh

Writer:

Martin McDonagh (written by)

Release Date:

29 helmikuu 2008 (Poland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Shoot first. Sightsee later.

Plot:

Holed up in Bruges, Belgium after a difficult job, two hit men begin to differ on their views of life and death as they become used to local customs.

Plot Keywords:

Medieval | Belgium | Christmas | Tourist | Drugs

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 30 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 16

2:30 AM

HBO

Cast

Elizabeth Berrington	...	Natalie
Rudy Blomme	...	Ticket Seller
Olivier Bonjour	...	Film Director
Mark Donovan	...	Overweight Man
Ann Elsley	...	Overweight Woman #2
Colin Farrell	...	Ray
Jean-Marc Favorin	...	Policeman
Ralph Fiennes	...	Harry
Brendan Gleeson	...	Ken
Eric Godon	...	Yuri
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Canadian Guy
Sachi Kimura	...	Imamoto
Anna Madeley	...	Denise
Louis Nummy	...	Harry's child #3
Clémence Poésy	...	Chloe
Jordan Prentice	...	Jimmy
Jérémie Renier	...	Eirik
Thekla Reuten	...	Marie
Theo Stevenson	...	Boy in Church
Inez Stinton	...	Kelli
Emily Thorling	...	Overweight Woman
Angel Witney	...	Harry's child #2
Bonnie Witney	...	Harry's child #1
Ran Yaniv	...	Barman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Ateh	...	Ken's Wife (uncredited)
Michael Bennett	...	Belgian Policeman (uncredited)
Stephanie Carey	...	Canadian Girl (uncredited)
Jamie Edgell	...	Boat Driver (uncredited)
Ciarán Hinds	...	Priest (uncredited)
Robbie Kay	...	Young Harry (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin McDonagh

Writing credits
Martin McDonagh		(written by)

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	executive producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Graham Broadbent	....	producer
Peter Czernin	....	producer
Sarah Harvey	....	co-producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer
Ronaldo Vasconcellos	....	line producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Eigil Bryld

Film Editing by
Jon Gregory

Casting by
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Michael Carlin

Art Direction by
Chris Lowe

Set Decoration by
Anna Lynch-Robinson

Costume Design by
Jany Temime

Makeup Department
Francesco Alberico	....	hair stylist
Pamela Goldammer	....	prosthetics workshop technician
Charlotte Hayward	....	hair trainee
Charlotte Hayward	....	makeup trainee
Sallie Jaye	....	hair designer
Sallie Jaye	....	makeup designer
Sharon Martin	....	makeup artist
David White	....	prosthetic makeup designer

Production Management
James Biddle	....	unit production manager
Steve Harvey	....	unit manager: UK
Alistair Hopkins	....	post-production supervisor
Grietje Lammertyn	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Penry-Davey	....	first assistant director
Charlie Reed	....	third assistant director
Lance Roehrig	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Joshua Barraud	....	stand-by art director
Jacco Bout	....	dressing props
Tim Browning	....	assistant art director
Guy Cope	....	stand-by rigger
Muffin Green	....	property master
Kathy Heaser	....	graphic artist
Colin Jackman	....	sculptor
Adam McCreight	....	dressing props
Robbe Nuyttens	....	props
Rod Whiting	....	props storeman

Sound Department
Robert Brazier	....	foley editor
Robert Brazier	....	foley mixer
Oliver Brierley	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Alistair Crocker	....	production sound mixer
Robert Edwards	....	adr recordist
Alex Fielding	....	sound mix technician
Arthur Graley	....	foley editor (as Arthur Grayley)
James Harbour	....	sound maintenance
Sue Harding	....	foley artist
James Harrison	....	sound effects editor
Nigel Heath	....	sound re-recording mixer
Johan Maertens	....	epk sound recordist
Dan Morgan	....	adr editor
Dan Morgan	....	dialogue editor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer
Rob Saunders	....	assistant sound
Julian Slater	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Sturmer	....	sound consultant: dolby
Jessica Ward	....	assistant sound editor
Rowena Wilkinson	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Barry Best	....	mould maker
James Davis III	....	snow effects technician (as James Davies)
James Davis III	....	special effects senior technician (as James Davies)
Hugh Goodbody	....	special effects senior technician
Mark Holt	....	special effects supervisor
David Johns	....	snow effects technician
Russell Pritchett	....	special effects technician
Del Reid	....	snow effects technician
Graham Riddell	....	senior special effects technician
Stephen Shelley	....	snow effects senior technician
Jamie Weguelin	....	special effects technician (as Jamie Wegeulin)

Visual Effects by
Louie Alexander	....	digital compositor: Framestore-CFC
Szvák Antal	....	visual effects coordinator: Cube Effects
Jaume Arteman	....	digital compositor: double negative
Oliver Atherton	....	sequence lead compositor: Double Negative
Michael Atkin	....	matchmove artist
Nicola Atkinson	....	matchmove artist
Szapek Attila	....	compositor: Cube Effects
Zoltán Benyó	....	visual effects producer: Cube Effects
Zachary Bloom	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Richard Briscoe	....	visual effects supervisor
Clare Brody	....	digital intermediate: data operator
Paul Burke	....	scanning and recording: Framestore
Andy Burrow	....	scanning & recording manager
Dave Calub	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore
Francesca Canducci	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore-CFC
Richard Edwards	....	data operator: Framestore
Kenneth Fanning	....	matchmover: Double Negative (as Ken Fanning)
Péter Farkas	....	digital compositor: Cube Effects
Adam Glasman	....	digital intermediate colourist
Mai Gray	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore-CFC
Gavin Gregory	....	visual effects coordinator: Double Negative
Jerry Hall	....	digital compositor
Alistair Hamer	....	film mastering engineer
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: double negative
Adam Hawkes	....	title compositor
Karsten Hecker	....	scanning & film recording assistant manager: Framestore CFC
Aeon Henderson	....	digital compositor
John Inch	....	retouch and restoration
Yan Jennings	....	film mastering engineer
Jody Johnson	....	digital supervisor
Rafal Kaniewski	....	compositor
Pál Klemm	....	supervising digital compositor: Cube Effects
Katalin Kriskó	....	roto/prep artist: Cube Effects
Aaron Lear	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
James Long	....	data operator
Kevin Lowery	....	film mastering engineer
Veronica Marcano	....	scanning and recording operator: Framestore
Stuart Nippard	....	conform editor
Rupert Porter	....	visual effects producer: Double Negative
James Reed	....	scanning and recording
Jimmy Saul	....	scanning and recording
Nick Stanley	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore
Maria Stroka	....	senior digital intermediate producer
Zoltán Szegedi	....	digital artist: Cube Effects
Gábor Székely	....	technical director: Cube Effects
Fiedler Tamás	....	digital compositor: Cube Effects
Odean Thompson	....	digital paint artist: restoration: Framestore
Simon Trafford	....	sequence lead compositor: Double Negative
Derek Walsh	....	assistant visual effects editor: Double Negative
Péter Zavorszky	....	visual effects production manager: Cube Effects
Patrick Zentis	....	digital matte painter: Double Negative
Taz Lodder	....	technical support: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Stephanie Carey	....	stunt performer
Jamie Edgell	....	stunt performer
James Embree	....	stunt double: Colin Farrell
Paul Herbert	....	stunt coordinator
Rowley Irlam	....	stunts
Mark Mottram	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Baker	....	daily camera operator
Jaap Buitendijk	....	still photographer
Wailoon Chung	....	electrician
Ian Clark	....	focus puller
Julien Covens	....	grip
Nic Cupac	....	key grip
Mark Hanlon	....	best boy
Rawdon Hayne	....	first assistant camera
Jody Knight	....	grip trainee
Andy Long	....	gaffer
Iain Mackay	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Peter Robertson	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Robertson	....	camera operator
Simon Surtees	....	second assistant camera
Roel Tanghe	....	electrician
Wim Temmerman	....	electrician
Gideon van Essen	....	lighting technician
Christophe Vanhoutte	....	electrician
Kristof Van Torre	....	electrician

Casting Department
Dixie Chassay	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Davies	....	assistant costume designer
Laurent Guinci	....	costume supervisor
Neil Murphy	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Chris Andrews	....	negative cutter
Greg Barrett	....	producer: high definition dailies
Jo Dixon	....	first assistant editor
Matt Gauci	....	avid technical support
Alec Gibson	....	colour grader
Adam Glasman	....	digital intermediate colorist
Adam Gough	....	second assistant editor
Jan Hogevold	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Sara Janasz	....	post-production coordinator
Sabine McDonald	....	negative cutter
Ian Seymour	....	associate editor
Kelly Smith	....	negative cutter
Maria Stroka	....	digital intermediate producer
Stephen Bearman	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
James Bellamy	....	music editor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearances
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor
Michael Farrow	....	scoring mixer
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Jill Streeter	....	copyist (as Jill Streater)

Transportation Department
Jeff Hudson	....	driver: Brendan Gleeson
Cain Lee	....	driver: camera car, UK
Barrie Williams	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Roland Ballard	....	assistant production coordinator
Roland Ballard	....	assistant production coordinator: UK
Mark Beaumont	....	production accountant
Charles Bodycomb	....	armorer
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Cuong Dang	....	assistant production coordinator: London
Paul Dray	....	laboratory contact
Nicky Earnshaw	....	production coordinator
Matt Gauci	....	avid technical support
Alec Gibson	....	laboratory grader
Katleen Goossens	....	location accountant
Ruth Halliday	....	clearances
Sam Haveland	....	set runner
Barbara Jansen	....	base runner
Joanna Johnson	....	legal and business affairs
David Johnston	....	data operator
Rachel Kennedy	....	unit publicist
Tamara King	....	production assistant: London
Rowena Ladbury	....	script supervisor
Seb Loden	....	production executive
Todd Lundquist	....	assistant: director
Frankie Malhotra	....	production coordinator
Dieter Moeyaert	....	stand-in
Emma Olrich-Smith	....	assets administrator
Judy Richter	....	consultant
Sascha Robey	....	armorer
Jana Tallieu	....	set runner
Liesbet Vaes	....	assistant production coordinator
Davina Van Belle	....	assistant location accountant
Helen Varty	....	assistant: Tessa Ross
Dan Whitty	....	location manager: London
Nadira Azermai	....	production assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Dave Evans	....	armourer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Blueprint Pictures
• Film4 (funding)
• Focus Features
• Scion Films

Distributors

• Focus Features (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• BFD (2009) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2008) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Paris Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Paradise Group (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Altered States FX (prosthetic make-up design)
• Double Negative (visual effects)
• Snow Business International (as Snow Business)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• ARRI Media  camera and grip equipment provided by
• Ace Film Catering  unit catering
• Birds & Animals UK  animal handlers (as Birds & Animals)
• Clearing House, The  clearances
• Compuhire  24 frame playback
• Film4  development
• Framestore CFC  digital intermediate (as Digital Lab, Framestore-CFC)
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recorded at (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Hackenbacker Audio Post Production  adr recorded at
• Hackenbacker Audio Post Production  re-recorded at
• Hothouse Music  music supervision
• Isobel Griffiths Limited  music contractor
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Midnight Transfer  high-definition preview conform
• Midnight Transfer  telecine high-definition facilities
• Movie Lot, The  security: UK
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Soundtrack  adr facility
• Translux  facilities and trucks
• UK Computamatch  negative cutting (as Computamatch)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

UK:18 | Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | USA:R (certificate #43954) | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | Finland:K-15 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Manitoba) | South Africa:16LV | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Australia:MA | Austria:14 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:16 | Ireland:18 (DVD rating) | Singapore:M18 (cut) | Brazil:16 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Chile:14 | Mexico:C | Sweden:15 (TV rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:16 (theatrical rating) | France:U (with warning) | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Company:

Blueprint Pictures

Trivia:

The film Ken is watching in his hotel room while waiting for Harry's second call is Touch of Evil (1958), directed by Orson Welles. The scene is the opening shot in which a car bomb is planted in the trunk of a car that is then followed in a 3 1/2 minute tracking shot.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The ammunition Ray finds in Chloe's apartment is in a box marked "38 Special Live Rounds" (presumably to distinguish it from the other box marked "Blank Rounds"). No actual ammunition box would bear that marking. The ammunition Ray takes from the box is .357 Magnum, not .38spl, and would not fit in Eirik's .38 pistol. Further, the box is the wrong size for its labeling; it is clearly a box for an automatic caliber such as 9mm or similar (which may be why the ammunition is loose in the box instead of in a proper tray).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ray: After I killed him, I dropped the gun in the Thames, washed the residue off me hands in the bathroom of a Burger King, and walked home to await instructions. Shortly thereafter the instructions came through - "Get the fuck out of London, you dumb fucks. Get to Bruges." I didn't even know where Bruges fucking was.
[pause]
Ray: It's in Belgium.

Movie Connections:

References Don't Look Now (1973)

Soundtrack:

Schubert: 24. Der Leiermann [Winterreise, D.911]

A Breath of Fresh Air: Review from Sundance

For those who might not know the name, director Martin McDonagh is an Irish playwright who won the Oscar last year for his short film "Six Shooter" about a chance encounter on a train, and that film's star Brendan Gleeson has returned as Ken, one of two hit men sent to the medieval city of Bruges in Belgium along with his partner Ray (Colin Farrell) to rest and lay low after a hit gone horribly wrong. Ray is a miserable bastard who makes it clear he's not happy about being in Bruges, but Ken convinces him that their boss Harry has a job for them there, as well as allowing them a chance for some sightseeing, none of which improves Ray's mood. Things look up when he meets the beautiful local woman Chloe, played by French actress Clémence Poésy--you may remember her as Fleur Delacore in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire--and scores himself a date, which also goes horribly wrong due to Ray shooting off his big mouth. From there things continue to go south as Ray and Ken get into all sorts of messes and meet strange characters, all of whom will play a part in the larger picture.

There aren't too many non-Belgian films set in Belgium, and Bruges is a beautiful but odd place to set an entire movie. You'll probably learn more about the place than you ever need to know as Ken narrates their sightseeing excursions with a few factoids about the place. The entire first act is driven by the chemistry between Farrell and Gleason as they deliver rapid-fire patter that reminds one of McDonagh's background as a playwright, but it makes them as immediately endearing as Vincent and Jules in "Pulp Fiction," allowing for an even bigger impact as things happen to them. Our first encounter with the boys' boss Harry is an expletive filled telegraph and an equally amusing phone conversation with Ken, making it obvious that this is a mobster cut from the same cloth as Ben Kingsley's Don Logan. Those who don't recognize the voice will be thrilled when they learn who plays Harry, because it's a pleasant surprise.

This is easily Colin Farrell's best role and performance in a long time, one that allows him to show a lot of range, not just as the big-mouthed prat we assume Ray to be, but also as a thoughtful man distraught about what happened in London. Having seen the error of his ways, he feels the need to make right, even if he hides it with a lot of complaining and arguments, and that carries over to Gleason's Ken, continuing his great run with McDonagh.

McDonagh has created a clever script that interweaves its small cast of characters into an intricate crime caper that mixes humor, violence and true heartfelt human emotions into a brilliant debut feature. Just when you think you know where things are going, McDonagh throws a sharp curve ball at you and then another, and another, and pretty soon, what started as a two-handed talkie has turned into a hold-your-breath action flick, when Harry turns up in Bruges to rectify some business that Ken has botched. Even so, it never loses what made the first half so charming and entertaining, because McDonagh's impressive dialogue remains at the forefront for the extended confrontation between Ken and Harry. The ending might be somewhat grim for some tastes going by the lightness of what's gone before, but the way everything is tied together makes it all worth it.

Anyone worried that Tarantino and Ritchie's best work might be behind them, can revel in the promise of McDonagh's take on the crime-comedy genre, as this talented filmmaker shows that "Six Shooter" was no fluke and this movie begins what's likely to be a long and promising film career. On top of that, if "In Bruges" doesn't end up being the funniest and most quotable movies of the year, then it should be very close