With "In Bruges." it feels like Martin McDonagh opened a window in a room where the air has been recycled endlessly.

| Sep 15, 2023

[Martin McDonagh's] affinity with meandering, melodically rhythmic dialogue and volcanic eruptions of profanity serves him well in this witty, wordy film.

| Oct 19, 2022

In Bruges has some cracking lines in it, a cracking performance from Brendan Gleeson as Ken, and some very funny, provocative jokes, but I still don't know... It's just all the violence that did me in.

| Aug 23, 2018

Its European setting places additional gravity on McDonagh's Irish-Catholic notions of reckoning-the knowledge that we have to pay for our sins, no matter how great or small.

| Nov 14, 2017

This is one of those movies that kicks off with a slow engine and picks up at full speed in the second half.

| Original Score: B- | Sep 12, 2017

I never expected to be moved by In Bruges, but I was.

Full Review | Dec 14, 2014

Those who know McDonagh's work know a vein of darkness will run deeply through the comedy. It has seldom been darker. Or funnier.

| Dec 14, 2014

In Bruges is a wildly imperfect feature debut, but it does make you curious to see what else McDonagh has to offer.

| Dec 14, 2014

The revelation is Farrell, whose natural petulance as an actor has never chimed so well with his deeper reserves of childlike vulnerability.

| Dec 14, 2014

For all his movie's tough talk, it's a sometimes slipshod construction.

| Oct 18, 2008

Maybe it's just that the cycle of hitman film escapades is played out for the time being, but In Bruges might have been better off using a silencer.

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Oct 18, 2008

McDonagh directs with supreme confidence, just as he writes.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Sep 12, 2008

Clever, unpredictable and entertaining, with moments of anguish...

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Sep 5, 2008

Despite the contrived conclusion, it all works marvellously, and that's thanks to some terrific performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 29, 2008

There's a Mametian rat-a-tat to McDonagh's dialogue, but the offbeat humor and the characters' genuine pain and regret feels unique.

| Original Score: 5/5 | May 1, 2008

Farrell has brought his A-game to this cracking little comedy-noir written and directed by Martin McDonagh. He is absolutely superb.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 18, 2008

A wonderfully absurd film. McDonagh is never stuck for a brilliant kiss-off line. I doubt he'll ever be stuck for an audience either.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 18, 2008

It's like prime era Mamet with relentless, unstoppable super-profane dialogue!

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 18, 2008

Colin Farrell raises eyebrows, belly laughs and sympathy in Martin McDonagh's debut feature.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 18, 2008

Its mock-artistic thriller trappings notwithstanding, 'In Bruges' is basically a funny, tragicomic two-hander, with the casting of Farrell alongside Gleeson enabling a pleasing Irish inflection.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 18, 2008