Friday, December 15, 2017

Script review - "In Bruges" by Martin McDonagh (warning: spoilers)

Astonishgly good script - very simple, two gangsters are hiding out in Bruges in Belgium, done almost like a play with lots of dialogue. But the stakes are high - one of the men has shot a priest and accidentally killed a boy; the other is unsure what he'll be told to do.

There's a lot of beautiful set up and pay off - a dwarf is introduced for comic effect then comes back to be killed like a small boy; a woman seems to be a bit of sex love interest, then tries to rob the guy, then helps redeem him; the villain Harry is a three dimensional person with a strong code of honour, a family, his own demons (molested by the priest).

Bruges is a real character in this - medieval, boring, touristy, characterful, suspected by the English/Irish. This ends with Ray having survived and about to kill himself - we're not sure if he'll go through with it.

This came with a strong reputation - people had urged me to see it - and it totally stands up.

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