Then/Now: In Bruges

Then: In probably one of the Then/Now series’ oldest documented reviews that I can dig up, my initial take on In Bruges comes from my Best Films of 2008 countdown, which took a “comprehensive” look at the year that was, including a list of the year’s worst films. But as we get to the Top 10, leading off is none other than a certain dark comedy about two hitmen hiding out in the titular Belgian town after a job has gone horribly wrong.

“10. In Bruges - Top notch writing and wham-bam comic acting. It's no surprise that writer/director Martin McDonough [sic] is a prize-winning playwright. His characters, situations, and dialogue are so well drawn that they ignite the screen, with a little help from Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, and Ralph Fiennes.”

No grade, but that reads like an A-minus to me, especially since it’s ranked above Frost/Nixon, Doubt, and Man on Wire, all of which would have received that same grade.

Now: The writing and performances stand out even sharper in my first viewing of the film in 14 years, particularly with the interplay between Farrell and Gleeson, and then Gleeson and Fiennes, but the direction seems a bit less impressive. There’s far more handheld camerawork than I remembered and not much visual flair — which makes a scene like the graveyard shootout from his follow-up, Seven Psychopaths, all the more impressive.

In Bruges is very much a first feature film, albeit from a monumentally gifted screenwriter. To paraphrase John Cleese’s man from Monty Python and The Holy Grail who was turned into a newt, McDonagh got better — and anticipation is sky high for his The Banshees of Inisherin, out Oct. 21 and re-teaming Farrell and Gleeson — but to have a debut as strong as this one is nevertheless impressive. Grade: B-plus. Rated R. Available on 4K and Blu-ray from Kino Lorber.

4K/Blu-ray bonus features

• Brand New 4K Master Color Graded and Approved by Cinematographer Eigil Bryld

• STRANGE BRUGES: Featurette

• WHEN IN BRUGES: Featurette

• FUCKING BRUGES: Featurette

• A BOAT TRIP AROUND BRUGES: Featurette

• Deleted Scenes

• Extended Scenes

• Gag Reel

• EPK Interviews with Actors Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Thekla Reuten and Jordan Prentice; Writer/Director Martin McDonagh; and Producer Graham Broadbent

• B-Roll: EPK

• US and German Theatrical Trailers

(Photo: Kino Lorber)