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Premise: Two hitmen retire to Bruges following an assignment that went wrong, leaving one suicidal. The other receives a call from their boss to take care of the errant hit man.
Stars: Brendan Gleeson * Colin Farrell * Ralph Fiennes
Story: Two hit men Ray (Farrell) and Ken (Gleeson) travel to Bruges, Belgium after Ray accidentally kills a kid during a hit on a priest. While there, the two have witty spirited conversations about sightseeing and other topics. Ray goes out one evening and comes across a film shoot, where he meets a local thief / drug peddler and a dwarf actor. He begins a romance with the thief only to be confronted by her ex-boyfriend and partner, whom he partially blinds. He then has an evening with the dwarf and a pair of local prostitutes, inviting Ken along for the party.
The next day, Ken receives a call from their boss and his next assignment is to kill Ray for shooting the kid. Ken prepares for the job, but has a change of heart wen he finds Ray is suicidal. He sends Ray off on a train, and tells Harry (Fiennes) that he will take the consequences. Harry travels to Bruges and confronts Ken. After a discussion, he decides only to wound Ken because of his betrayal. However, when the partially blinded thief tells Harry that Ray is in Bruges, Harry shoots Ken in the neck. Ken jumps from the tower and tries to warn Ray, but dies too soon. Ray runs from Harry, and gets shot multiple times. Howevever, when shooting Ray, Harry killed the dwarf. As the dwarf was dressed in a schoolboy outfit for the movie, Harry believes he killed a kid also, and takes his own life. The movie ends with Ray in a questionable state.
Review: The film is enjoyable and reminds one of the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch due to its witty dialogue. A memorable scene involves the two hitmen and a family of American tourists. The two lead actors are very good - Farrell as the tormented Ray and Gleeson as the experienced and jaded Ken - and make the film worth watching. Fiennes' supporting role is strictly one-note, even with a couple of good scenes with Gleeson and Farrell.
The subplots involving a dwarf American actor who believes a race war is coming, as well as Chloe, Erik (her partner), and the woman running the hostel where the two hitmen are staying are also nicely done. Smart, tight, and witty, the film is nicely diverting entertainment.
Overall: Good
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