Brügge sehen... und sterben?

Ein unwiderstehlich inkorrekter und ultrafrecher Gangsterfilm mit Stil und ohne einen US-amerikanischen Charakter, der großartig mit einem Gleichgewicht zwischen tragischen Tränen und einem lauten Lachen spielt. Kein Wunder, dass Martin McDonagh ein Theaterregisseur ist. Seine abgelegene belgische Stadt ist nur eine provisorische Kulisse für eine ausgezeichnete Charakter-Partie von moralisch verdorbenen Verrückten. Die Schauspieler*innen genießen feinschmeckerisch ihre Rollen, die für sie eher untypisch sind. Eine Pflicht für die Fans von Tarantino- und Ritchie-Filmen und Sexy Beast. Ohne den Schuft Don Logan, den der geniale Ben Kingsley dargestellt hat, würde hier Ralph Fiennes nicht seine beste Figur seit Amon Göth spielen. Ein verdientes Potenzial eines langzeitigen Kult-Status. (09.05.2008)

If the whole film hadn't been a persistent effort to show "Look how amazingly original and funny dialogues I can write!", I would have rated it more positively, because the melancholic mood that permeates it was very good (for that and for my favourite Brendan Gleeson 3*). Apparently some people are satisfied with the wannabe deep dialogues about the clash of white and black dwarves and don't mind that the main characters behave like idiots, but I am not and so I won't join the crowd of satisfied viewers. The hardly believable conversation after the jump from the tower and the final act of the gangster Waters fall somewhere into the realms of absurd self-parody a la Monty Python (12.06.2008)

A flawlessly balanced blend of tragic drama and smart comedy. A film with a (literal) fairytale atmosphere so intense that it fully engulfs you. It’s a little unrealistic – in fact, you aren’t supposed to root for any of the characters, and yet, they are all quite likeable – but all the more charming for that. I was fancying something exactly like this and this film really hit the spot. Which is good, any other day I probably would not give it a full rating, and that would be a shame. (01.08.2008)

Melancholic, funny, bloody... It takes quite a bit of talent to give such inter-genre pirouettes a sequence and elegance that doesn't automatically hit the weak spots. True, the film does ruthlessly pick its weaker moments. Especially in those long-winded dialogues about "nothing," which are supposed to be very cool, but paradoxically more so disturb the special mood of the film, which is created by the city and the absolutely fantastic actors. Whether you admit it or not, this Belgian postcard has something to it. (11.05.2010)

Für den einen der Himmel, für andere die Hölle, für alle jedoch ein Fegefeuer. Ein existenzieller kammerähnlicher Gangsterfilm über Schuld, Vergebung und Korrektur, der sich auf faszinierende Art und Weise von einer romantischen Tour durch die Schönheiten des flämischen Landes bishin zur verkrümmten Bosch-Leinwand entwickelt. Brendan Gleesons tonnenschwere väterliche Leistung, Colin Farrels affektiert kindliche Kreationen und das von Ralph Fiennes verkörperte strenge alttestamentliche Prinzip - und druherum befinden sich sorgfältig konstruierte Theaterdialoge, fantastisch abgestufte Bilder sowie eine intensive Atmosphäre, die eng mit der Art und Weise zusammenhängt, wie sich Filmemacher der flämischen Gotik bedienen. McDonagh lässt sein dramaturgisches Talent bewundern (manchmal mutet dies eher wie ein Theaterstück in einer hinreißenden Filmpackung an), jedoch zeitgleich wird die Magie der Filmsprache nicht in den Hintergrund gerückt (brillante Arbeit mit der Dynamik des Geschichtenerzählens). Infolgedessen wächst das bescheidene Brügge sehen... und sterben? zu einer umfassenden Filmmetapher heran, deren Bosch-Pointe ebenso schön wie frostig ist. In diesem Kontext mögen Namen wie Ritchie oder Tarantino erwähnt werden, aber das ändert nichts an der Tatsache, dass McDonagh unprätentiös und nachdenklich seinen eigenen Stil prägt. P.S. Ich weiß eigentlich gar nicht warum, aber irgendwie erwuchs der Wunsch in mir, dass dieser Mann einmal einen Bondfilm dreht ... zum Beispiel mit Colin. (10.11.2010)

In his feature movie debut, McDonagh gives us exactly what a viewer well-versed in his shorts (or in his frequently staged plays) would expect. Just the restricted room of one train is replaced by the historical center of Bruges, plus a racist dwarf and the phenomenal Rúaidhrí Conroy is replaced by Colin Farrell. I would just like to know what the very numerous community of Vietnamese dwarves living in Canada would have said to this Irish rampaging in Belgium. They must be just as thrilled as our Prague Vietnamese community who were jubilant at the movie theater. And why not, indeed. Although there are no real negatives in this movie, his theatre plays seem to me to be just slightly better (especially “The Pillow Man", not to mention “The Lonesome West"). (08.05.2008)

Over the past 12 months, this was my strongest cinematic experience alongside the animated movie Persepolis, and is all the more pleasant because it was practically unexpected. A great screenplay, interesting casting, excellent performances, and very well-written dialogues, not only for its genre, where several excellent quotes appear that have the chance to gain cult status. It is a film that clearly distinguishes itself from the genre mainstream while still being appealing to the audience. Black humor, several exciting duels, and unexpected twists. This film was much more attractive to me than the much more discussed American Gangster. I have practically no objections to it. Overall impression: 100%. The purely European atmosphere of an ancient city full of monuments, weary tourists, and small-town mentality also plays a role. (29.06.2008)

I saw the trailer for In Bruges when I happened to arrive a bit early for Iron Man and, well, it captured my attention. What’s so special about that? Nothing. But it never happened to me before. I usually watch trailers in the peace of my home, so I know what’s going on (thanks to the guys at MovieZone ;-). Long story short, the movie me even more than the excellent trailer. Two hired killers arrive in a medieval town full of historical monuments for a holiday. And one of them is carrying a memory with him of the last murder, which went wrong in the worst possible way. Collin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson both excel throughout, joined from the second half of the movie by Ralph Fiennes, who I’ve never heard as foulmouthed as he was here. Well I have to take my hat off to the director Martin McDonagh. His debut is already among the best movies produced this year. (12.06.2008)

It reminded me a lot of The American with George Clooney in the lead role. It’s similarly expressionistic, austere, and cold. It’s a slow intimate film with a lot of dialogue, emphasising the beautiful location (this time Bruges, shown in all its glory). Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play interesting characters, and you want to see them on screen as much as possible, but in the end, Ralph Fiennes steals the film for himself. It may be slightly forced in an artsy way, where, unlike in The American or Drive, it tends to shout to the world, "look at how sophisticated and aware we are," but it still holds true that it is an unconventional and raw, genuine film that is entertaining and also sufficiently on par. You will certainly not forget it, it has many fantastic scenes and moments. (01.06.2013)

At first glance, I can’t avoid the idea that this film doesn't belong in the major leagues. However, upon longer reflection, I am coming closer and closer to the conclusion that the script is simply unique and there are not many better films in the comedy-drama category in our cinemas these days. Either way, the Brits have once again pulled it off and clearly prove that their dry humour far exceeds the impotent American entertainment of recent years. A thoroughly intimate, human, beautifully told and, above all, superbly acted story about a group of strange individuals whose strange mindset is put to the ultimate test in the form of the strangest city in the world. It may sound contrived, but Martin McDonagh has created a truly hard-to-describe film whose final half hour I would not hesitate to place high in the hall of fame of world cinema. Perhaps the creators could have done without the conversation after the jump from the tower:)) P.S. For the second time I raise the rating to full, this film is really powerful... (17.06.2012)

Ein originelles Gemisch aus Genres stellenweise habe ich sehr gelacht, an anderen Stellen hatte ich ein stark beklemmendes Gefühl. Ich wusste vorher nicht, worum es in diesem Streifen geht, deshalb habe ich lange nicht gewusst, was für einen sonderbaren Film uns der Regisseur vorgesetzt hat. Die Idee erscheint fast genial - zwei Auftragsmörder nehmen sich nach einem misslungenen Versuch eine Auszeit und reisen ins märchenhaft schöne Brügge. Und sie treffen hier auf Figuren, die aus Jan Nerudas Arabesken oder einem Film von Fellini ausgeschnitten zu sein scheinen. Ich mag einen solchen Stil, und auch wenn ich C. Farrell lange Zeit nicht haben musste, hat er erneut gezeigt, dass er schauspielerisch was drauf hat. Am besten hat mir aber sein älterer Kollege Brendan Gleeson gefallen. (06.07.2010)

"A great day this has turned out to be. I'm suicidal, me mate tries to kill me, me gun gets nicked and we're still in fookin' Bruges!" Incredible work with audience anticipation that, after initial incredulity, draws the viewer into a wonderful world of ultra-violence, drugs, and surreal dialogue and sequences. The film manages the incredible feat of creating an endless desire to go to Bruges at the end of days just to be able to repeat Farrell's bullshit out loud. (22.03.2012)

From what I've seen, Bruges is the perfect destination for romantic rendezvous, sightseeing tours, or the settling of scores between two hitmen. The filmmakers took full advantage of the setting to create just the right atmosphere. The story intrigued me, even though its characters didn’t quite appeal to me. The film combines a serious subject with hilarity, which made for a good time. There was a moral lesson to take away, though not as blatant as in some American movies. (18.12.2021)

This comedy/drama will take your breath away. If you don't know any of Martin McDonagh's plays, you will be quite surprised. I was lucky to see the play "The Lonesome West" performed by the South Bohemian Theatre and it was an unforgettable experience. Classic modern London school, quite gritty but still funny. Clearly, the humor is as black as the cat Mikeš. You will laugh, I promise you. The jokes are not watered down, and if you don't mind a bit of violence, you will be knocked out in a good way. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson spew profanity with incredible cadence. Oh, and by the way, they are hired assassins. They end up in Bruges because their last mission went quite wrong, and they have to wait for further orders. I won't spoil anything because it's a shame to say anything, but I can at least hint that the ending got me because it is in the spirit of the whole film. Simply an excellent film. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/04/bruce-clint-simon-david-zbouchnuta-v.html (17.02.2013)

After the third screening I have to push it and go for the full 5 stars, with In Bruges becoming one of my favorite pieces. This really rather dark comedy will win you over with its quirky humor, beautiful shots of various corners of Bruges (I have been to Belgium, but only to Brussels; Bruges beckons me now), beautiful music, and great cast. A first-class debut from writer and director Martin McDonagh. (08.03.2009)