IMDb > In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

In Bruges (2008) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 65 | slideshow) Videos (see all 30)
In Bruges (2008) -- In Bruges Trailer
In Bruges (2008) -- Clip: This Is The Shootout
In Bruges (2008) -- Interview: Brendan Gleeson "On the story"
In Bruges (2008) -- 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.
In Bruges (2008) -- 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.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Martin McDonagh (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for In Bruges on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
29 February 2008 (Poland) more
Genre:
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 30 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(302 articles)
Crazy Heart Poster, The Oscar Contender Earning Comparisons to The Wrestler
 (From Slash Film. 15 November 2009, 11:19 AM, PST)

Review: Pirate Radio
 (From Reel Loop. 12 November 2009, 3:29 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Atonement and Existentialism In Bruges more (331 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.
Runtime:
107 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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

Fun Stuff

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. more
Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Ray tells Ken that they are in the Basilica of the Holy Blood, named after a phial of Christ's blood brought back from the Crusades, they are not. They are in the Jeruzalemkerk, a private church built in the 15th century as a mausoleum for a wealthy merchant's family. The Basilica is the most visited church in Bruges. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Features Touch of Evil (1958) more
Soundtrack:
St John the Gambler more

FAQ

What happens at the end of the film?
Is "In Bruges" based on a book?
What was the relationship with Harry and his father?
more
175 out of 224 people found the following comment useful.
Atonement and Existentialism In Bruges, 10 February 2008
8/10
Author: colinbarnard-1 from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

A European film through and through, showing its deep theatrical roots, "In Bruges" works on may levels, and is a fine night at the cinema.

The film follows the denouement of a "job" gone bad for two Irish hit men, who are forced to hole up in Bruges, Belgium, and really can't stand the inactivity. The forced waiting, a symbolic purgatory in both assassins' struggle for absolution, gives Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell a chance to act through some marvelous comic dialogue.

The film itself looks like it was filmed in an area of the old city of Bruges that is no more than a 500 square metre radius. It doesn't matter, because the film is a character study more than anything, and like all good theatre, the character interplay allows the audience to forget the confined spaces.

Ralph Fiennes comes into the film late basically stealing Ben Kingsley's character from "Sexy Beast". This has to be an absolutely deliberate choice, so can't really be criticized. The writing is so good that Fiennes can have real fun with it. All the actors do, as a matter of fact.

I have been deeply suspicious of Colin Farrell's ability to read a script in the past. His choices of projects in the past has been spotty. Not this time: his acting ability is brought to the fore by director and screenwriter Martin McDonagh. Farrell gives a very strong performance as a morally challenged hit-man.

Brendan Gleeson has been around forever, and is a renowned character actor. You may remember him from "Braveheart" as Hamish Campbell, Mel Gibson's loyal adjutant. He is able to completely bury himself in this part. Colin Farrell has the capacity to reach these heights as well, and in fact, in this film, shows many of the mannerisms and intensity of Russell Crowe (whom I consider to be the best actor on the planet).

I appreciated the comedy and satire working hand in hand with the moral complexity of the characters' inner struggles. It makes for a very satisfying film, one that is much more than entertainment. When you consider what the budget was in comparison to many Hollywood films, "In Bruges" serves as a reminder that it is the script and the quality of the direction that makes a film. Why Hollywood thinks they can just throw money into a project and expect people to come to the cinema is beyond me.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (331 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for In Bruges (2008)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Top 10 Cult Movies of the Decade imaintdan
Tarantino's influence... or style imitating? varelachino
The Little Kid.... mauri_ef
Why didn't Harry kill Ray?? mnm483
Similar films sammyn24
Top 10 Directorial Debuts of the Decade imaintdan
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
C'est arrivé près de chez vous The Departed Pulp Fiction Babel Wonderland
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Crime section
IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.