'In Bruges' Review

Chances are you've seen the above image before; most likely somewhere on the Internet in the depths of reaction images and the many threads online featuring out-of-context images riddled with obscurities.

The above image is in fact from a satirical crime and thriller film known as In Bruges, directed by Martin McDonagh. It's a film that displays the nonsensical and comical lives of two hitmen sent to the medieval city of Bruges, Belgium.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are hiding out in Bruges after a botched job that went extremely south for Ray, after he killed a child in mere collateral damage. The event now haunts him, and his previously kept-in emotions are beginning to flourish as the beauty and fragility of life hits him.

Unfortunately, this makes Ray a liability. His emotional state and previous actions has his boss worried, and believing that Ray deserves to be punished, although Ray seems keen on doing the punishing himself. It's a sad, yet heartwarming relationship that begins to arise between Ray and Ken, given Ken acts almost fatherly towards Ray, trying to help him overcome his past and move on from his mistake; although Ken has this tough-guy-esque personality. Following the slow strengthening of their relationship, Ken is assigned with a new job: deal with Ray himself, but it's proving difficult for him to accept the job.

The two are lovable characters, despite their pasts as hitmen; they're lovable in the sense that their idiocies and often dark humour displays their sheer luck in a job that's very serious and requires a strong heart. Their shenanigans result in Ray preparing to shoot himself in the end at the same time that Ken contemplates assassinating him as told. And of course neither of them go through with it, because they both realise the sheer ridiculousness of either event. Ken is caught pointing a gun at Ray and the two begin to argue about whether Ken was really going to kill him, with Ken pointing out the silliness in Ray attempting to shoot himself.

Honestly, that very scene sums up the film in its entirety. Two idiotic hitmen, and they're in Bruges.