In Bruges (2008)

Director:

Martin McDonagh

Writer:

Martin McDonagh (written by)

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (Poland)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

Medieval | Tourist | Belgium | Christmas | Dwarf

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 31 nominations

Cast

Elizabeth Berrington	...	Natalie
Rudy Blomme	...	Ticket Seller
Olivier Bonjour	...	Film Director
Mark Donovan	...	Overweight Man
Ann Elsley	...	Overweight Woman #2
Colin Farrell	...	Ray
Jean-Marc Favorin	...	Policeman
Ralph Fiennes	...	Harry
Brendan Gleeson	...	Ken
Eric Godon	...	Yuri
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Canadian Guy
Sachi Kimura	...	Imamoto
Anna Madeley	...	Denise
Louis Nummy	...	Harry's child #3
Clémence Poésy	...	Chloe
Jordan Prentice	...	Jimmy
Jérémie Renier	...	Eirik
Thekla Reuten	...	Marie
Theo Stevenson	...	Boy in Church
Inez Stinton	...	Kelli
Emily Thorling	...	Overweight Woman
Angel Witney	...	Harry's child #2
Bonnie Witney	...	Harry's child #1
Ran Yaniv	...	Barman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Ateh	...	Ken's Wife (uncredited)
Michael Bennett	...	Belgian Policeman (uncredited)
Stephanie Carey	...	Canadian Girl (uncredited)
Jamie Edgell	...	Boat Driver (uncredited)
Ciarán Hinds	...	Priest (uncredited)
Robbie Kay	...	Young Harry (uncredited)

Directed by
Martin McDonagh

Writing credits
Martin McDonagh		(written by)

Produced by
Jeff Abberley	....	executive producer
Julia Blackman	....	executive producer
Graham Broadbent	....	producer
Peter Czernin	....	producer
Sarah Harvey	....	co-producer
Tessa Ross	....	executive producer
Ronaldo Vasconcellos	....	line producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Eigil Bryld

Film Editing by
Jon Gregory

Casting by
Jina Jay

Production Design by
Michael Carlin

Art Direction by
Chris Lowe

Set Decoration by
Anna Lynch-Robinson

Costume Design by
Jany Temime

Makeup Department
Francesco Alberico	....	hair stylist
Pamela Goldammer	....	prosthetics workshop technician
Charlotte Hayward	....	hair trainee
Charlotte Hayward	....	makeup trainee
Sallie Jaye	....	hair designer
Sallie Jaye	....	makeup designer
Sharon Martin	....	makeup artist
David White	....	prosthetic makeup designer

Production Management
James Biddle	....	unit production manager
Steve Harvey	....	unit manager: UK
Alistair Hopkins	....	post-production supervisor
Grietje Lammertyn	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Penry-Davey	....	first assistant director
Charlie Reed	....	third assistant director
Lance Roehrig	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Joshua Barraud	....	stand-by art director
Jacco Bout	....	dressing props
Tim Browning	....	assistant art director
Guy Cope	....	stand-by rigger
Muffin Green	....	property master
Kathy Heaser	....	graphic artist
Colin Jackman	....	sculptor
Adam McCreight	....	dressing props
Robbe Nuyttens	....	props
Rod Whiting	....	props storeman

Sound Department
Robert Brazier	....	foley editor
Robert Brazier	....	foley mixer
Oliver Brierley	....	assistant re-recording mixer
Peter Burgis	....	foley artist
Alistair Crocker	....	production sound mixer
Robert Edwards	....	adr recordist
Alex Fielding	....	sound mix technician
Arthur Graley	....	foley editor (as Arthur Grayley)
James Harbour	....	sound maintenance
Sue Harding	....	foley artist
James Harrison	....	sound effects editor
Nigel Heath	....	sound re-recording mixer
Johan Maertens	....	epk sound recordist
Dan Morgan	....	adr editor
Dan Morgan	....	dialogue editor
Beauxregard Neylon	....	adr mixer
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer
Rob Saunders	....	assistant sound
Julian Slater	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Sturmer	....	sound consultant: dolby
Jessica Ward	....	assistant sound editor
Rowena Wilkinson	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Barry Best	....	mould maker
James Davis III	....	snow effects technician (as James Davies)
James Davis III	....	special effects senior technician (as James Davies)
Hugh Goodbody	....	special effects senior technician
Mark Holt	....	special effects supervisor
David Johns	....	snow effects technician
Russell Pritchett	....	special effects technician
Del Reid	....	snow effects technician
Graham Riddell	....	senior special effects technician
Stephen Shelley	....	snow effects senior technician
Jamie Weguelin	....	special effects technician (as Jamie Wegeulin)

Visual Effects by
Louie Alexander	....	digital compositor: Framestore-CFC
Szvák Antal	....	visual effects coordinator: Cube Effects
Jaume Arteman	....	digital compositor: double negative
Oliver Atherton	....	sequence lead compositor: Double Negative
Michael Atkin	....	matchmove artist
Nicola Atkinson	....	matchmove artist
Szapek Attila	....	compositor: Cube Effects
Zoltán Benyó	....	visual effects producer: Cube Effects
Zachary Bloom	....	scanning and recording: Framestore CFC
Richard Briscoe	....	visual effects supervisor
Clare Brody	....	digital intermediate: data operator
Paul Burke	....	scanning and recording: Framestore
Andy Burrow	....	scanning & recording manager
Dave Calub	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore
Francesca Canducci	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore-CFC
Zoe Cousins	....	scan record operator
Richard Edwards	....	data operator: Framestore
Kenneth Fanning	....	matchmover: Double Negative (as Ken Fanning)
Péter Farkas	....	digital compositor: Cube Effects
Adam Glasman	....	digital intermediate colourist
Mai Gray	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore-CFC
Gavin Gregory	....	visual effects coordinator: Double Negative
Jerry Hall	....	digital compositor
Alistair Hamer	....	film mastering engineer
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: double negative
Adam Hawkes	....	title compositor
Karsten Hecker	....	scanning & film recording assistant manager: Framestore CFC
Aeon Henderson	....	digital compositor
John Inch	....	retouch and restoration
Yan Jennings	....	film mastering engineer
Jody Johnson	....	digital supervisor
Rafal Kaniewski	....	compositor
Pál Klemm	....	supervising digital compositor: Cube Effects
Katalin Kriskó	....	roto/prep artist: Cube Effects
Aaron Lear	....	digital cleanup artist: Framestore CFC
James Long	....	data operator
Kevin Lowery	....	film mastering engineer
Veronica Marcano	....	scanning and recording operator: Framestore
Stuart Nippard	....	conform editor
Rupert Porter	....	visual effects producer: Double Negative
James Reed	....	scanning and recording
Jimmy Saul	....	scanning and recording
Nick Stanley	....	retouch and restoration: Framestore
Maria Stroka	....	senior digital intermediate producer
Zoltán Szegedi	....	digital artist: Cube Effects
Gábor Székely	....	technical director: Cube Effects
Fiedler Tamás	....	digital compositor: Cube Effects
Odean Thompson	....	digital paint artist: restoration: Framestore
Simon Trafford	....	sequence lead compositor: Double Negative
Derek Walsh	....	assistant visual effects editor: Double Negative
Péter Zavorszky	....	visual effects production manager: Cube Effects
Patrick Zentis	....	digital matte painter: Double Negative
Taz Lodder	....	technical support: Double Negative (uncredited)

Stunts
Stephanie Carey	....	stunt performer
Jamie Edgell	....	stunt performer
James Embree	....	stunt double: Colin Farrell
Paul Herbert	....	stunt coordinator
Rowley Irlam	....	stunts
Mark Mottram	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Simon Baker	....	daily camera operator
Jaap Buitendijk	....	still photographer
Wailoon Chung	....	electrician
Ian Clark	....	focus puller
Julien Covens	....	grip
Nic Cupac	....	key grip
Mark Hanlon	....	best boy
Rawdon Hayne	....	first assistant camera
Jody Knight	....	grip trainee
Andy Long	....	gaffer
Iain Mackay	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Peter Robertson	....	Steadicam operator
Peter Robertson	....	camera operator
Simon Surtees	....	second assistant camera
Roel Tanghe	....	electrician
Wim Temmerman	....	electrician
Gideon van Essen	....	lighting technician
Christophe Vanhoutte	....	electrician
Kristof Van Torre	....	electrician

Casting Department
Dixie Chassay	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Richard Davies	....	assistant costume designer
Laurent Guinci	....	costume supervisor
Neil Murphy	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Chris Andrews	....	negative cutter
Greg Barrett	....	producer: high definition dailies
Jo Dixon	....	first assistant editor
Matt Gauci	....	avid technical support
Alec Gibson	....	colour grader
Adam Glasman	....	digital intermediate colorist
Adam Gough	....	second assistant editor
Jan Hogevold	....	digital intermediate executive producer
Sara Janasz	....	post-production coordinator
Sabine McDonald	....	negative cutter
Ian Seymour	....	associate editor
Kelly Smith	....	negative cutter
Maria Stroka	....	digital intermediate producer
Stephen Bearman	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
James Bellamy	....	music editor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearances
Carter Burwell	....	conductor
Carter Burwell	....	orchestrator
Karen Elliott	....	music supervisor
Michael Farrow	....	scoring mixer
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Dean Parker	....	composer assistant
Jill Streeter	....	copyist (as Jill Streater)

Transportation Department
Jeff Hudson	....	driver: Brendan Gleeson
Cain Lee	....	driver: camera car, UK
Barrie Williams	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Roland Ballard	....	assistant production coordinator
Roland Ballard	....	assistant production coordinator: UK
Mark Beaumont	....	production accountant
Charles Bodycomb	....	armorer
Matt Curtis	....	title designer
Cuong Dang	....	assistant production coordinator: London
Paul Dray	....	laboratory contact
Nicky Earnshaw	....	production coordinator
Matt Gauci	....	avid technical support
Alec Gibson	....	laboratory grader
Katleen Goossens	....	location accountant
Ruth Halliday	....	clearances
Sam Haveland	....	set runner
Barbara Jansen	....	base runner
Joanna Johnson	....	legal and business affairs
David Johnston	....	data operator
Rachel Kennedy	....	unit publicist
Tamara King	....	production assistant: London
Rowena Ladbury	....	script supervisor
Seb Loden	....	production executive
Todd Lundquist	....	assistant: director
Frankie Malhotra	....	production coordinator
Dieter Moeyaert	....	stand-in
Emma Olrich-Smith	....	assets administrator
Judy Richter	....	consultant
Sascha Robey	....	armorer
Jana Tallieu	....	set runner
Liesbet Vaes	....	assistant production coordinator
Davina Van Belle	....	assistant location accountant
Helen Varty	....	assistant: Tessa Ross
Dan Whitty	....	location manager: London
Nadira Azermai	....	production assistant: dailies (uncredited)
Dave Evans	....	armourer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Blueprint Pictures
• Film4 (funding)
• Focus Features
• Scion Films

Distributors

• Focus Features (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• BFD (2009) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2008) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Paris Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2008) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Geneon Universal Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (DVD) (rental)
• Paradise Group (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2009) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Altered States FX (prosthetic make-up design)
• Double Negative (visual effects)
• Snow Business International (as Snow Business)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• ARRI Media  camera and grip equipment provided by
• Ace Film Catering  unit catering
• Angel Studios  music mixed at
• Angel Studios  music recorded at
• Birds & Animals UK  animal handlers (as Birds & Animals)
• Clearing House, The  clearances
• Compuhire  24 frame playback
• Film4  development
• Framestore CFC  digital intermediate (as Digital Lab, Framestore-CFC)
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr recorded at (as Goldcrest Post Production)
• Hackenbacker Audio Post Production  adr recorded at
• Hackenbacker Audio Post Production  re-recorded at
• Hothouse Music  music supervision
• Isobel Griffiths Limited  music contractor
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Midnight Transfer  high-definition preview conform
• Midnight Transfer  telecine high-definition facilities
• Movie Lot, The  security: UK
• Murphy PR  publicity
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sapex Scripts  post-production services
• Soundtrack  adr facility
• Translux  facilities and trucks
• UK Computamatch  negative cutting (as Computamatch)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong bloody violence, pervasive language and some drug use.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

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

Filming Locations:

Brugge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Company:

Blueprint Pictures

Trivia:

The painting that occasions comment even from Ray is "The Last Judgment" by Hieronymous Bosch. Bosch-like symbolism recurs throughout the movie (the dwarf is one example), suggesting that Ray and Ken may indeed encounter their own Last Judgment - or that the waiting period in Bruges is akin to purgatory.

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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "At the Movies: (#6.1)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

St John the Gambler

Nice Blend Of Drama And Comedy

One of the problems with seeing a trailer for a film is it creates an expectation. If it raises expectations, and the film delivers, great. However, if the film is less then expected, then the viewer feels cheated. The best case scenario is the one I found myself in before I saw In Bruges. Low expectations.

After seeing the trailer, In Bruges looked like a plodding British comedy with little originality and repetitious humor, hence the low expectations. Yet, In Bruges exceeded my minimal expectations, and, unlike my impression from the trailer, was an original drama with good acting and a nice blend of comedy mixed in. It was funny in the right places and appropriately dramatic when the story shifted into high gear towards the end.

Set in, no surprise here, Bruges, Belgium, the plot focuses on two London hit men, Ray played by Colin Farrell, and Ken, played by Brendan Gleeson. The pair is sent to Belgium after Ray botches his first hi. And therein lies the humor, Ray has no interest in being in the medieval city, and Ken wants to sight see.

I've never really liked Colin Farrell but who knew he had such a good sense of comedic timing? There is a running gag involving fighting with a bottle, and karate, that he manages to keep fresh as it pops up throughout the film. Brendan Gleeson's character provides the moral center and plays the straight man to Farrell's Ray. This works well as the movie turns more serious towards the end. However, for my money, the best performance is delivered by Ralph Fiennes who plays Harry the pair's criminal overlord back in London. Whereas Gleeson character embodies the moral center, Fiennes's Harry fills the role of principled immorality, if there is such a thing. Fiennes creates a character with a dubious moral center and is a quite believable figure of menace when he travels to Bruges to square off with Ken. Also, of note, is Jordan Prentice, an irritable dwarf who's in town to act in a movie filming there. His ramblings in one scene, about a coming race war, is worth the price of admission right there.

The only aspect of the film that didn't work for me was Ray's love interest. Early in the film he manages to woo Chloe, a drug dealer with, drum roll please, a heart of gold. For my tastes, the budding romance seems a little forced and comes across more as a vehicle for jokes and drama. But it's a small thing and I doubt anyone but me would notice.

I intentionally left a lot of plot points out, because, as I've mentioned, this film surprised me in a good way and I don't won't to ruin it for anyone else.

In Bruges is a good film. Go see it.

At the very least, it'll make you want to visit Bruges.