First Hit: A great and wonderful execution of two genres, comedy and dramatic action, into a single film.
Martin McDonagh wrote and directed this outstanding, well executed film. The characters are well defined through their dialogue.
There are three main characters Ray (played by Colin Farrell), Ken (played by Brendan Gleeson), and Harry (played by Ralph Fiennes) who are criminals and live by a certain code. Each person has their role in this small time criminal organization which exists to eliminate people.
The film begins with Ray and Ken arriving in Bruges with Ray calling the town a “shit hole”. As the film unfolds you learn that they have just murdered a priest, as instructed to by Harry, and are hanging out in Bruges as Harry requested until the heat dies down.
However, as you also learn this isn’t the only reason they are in Bruges. When Ray shot the priest he also accidently killed a child and as the film unfolds, this act is starting to affect him and is the reason they are in Bruges.
The comedy is pointed, fearless, and always through their view of the world and their reaction to stereotypes. The acting is outstanding on all counts, especially Colin Farrell, and there wasn’t a dull moment in this film.
Overall: This film was well written, paced, directed, and acted.