"In Bruges" in a bar
Martin McDonagh's In Bruges (Focus Features, 2.8) is a much, much better film than the trailer suggests. It's a classic "surprise" package -- looks like nothing but fastballs, is actually about curves, sliders and change-ups. As bright and fully considered as a good play (no surprise) with affecting portions of heart, compassion and symmetry. And laughs -- it's a very funny piece.
I've just come from the opening-night screening of this fascinating, above- average intellectual crime romp at Park City's Eccles Theatre, and I'm waiting for the after-party to start at 10 pm.
The In Bruges trailer isn't an out-and-out lie, but it ignores what's really fine and special about the film. Critics and bloggers are supposed to spread the word (and I'm doing that right now) but why didn't Focus let me see this film last Monday? I wouldn't have to be sitting in a bar and banging this out right now.
We're living in a twisted marketing world today. Got a gangster film that works for adult viewers as well as action fans? Keep the critics from seeing before it plays Sundance, and do everything in your power to persuade the adults in the ad campaign that this movie is not for them -- sell only to the under-30 adrenaline junkies. Sell it as a hyper, funny, gun-crazy Guy Ritchie or early Quentin Tarantino crime film. Thematic richness be damned. Skillfully written characters, moments of tenderness, oddball humor...fuck all that! Just go for the guns, guys and popcorn.
In Bruges has a good amount of gunplay and blood in the third act, yes, but it's mainly about tourism, morality, character, good writing, humanity and terrible guilt. It's about standing up for what you believe (even if it hurts), and also about on-the-fly whimsy and joy and weirdness and pretty girls and pretty views.
Did I mention that it's funny and sometimes hilarious? I did?
In Bruges also delights because it offers another deeply touching performance by Colin Farrell, playing a young screw-up who develops a conscience and a soul along the way. It's a revelation for those who may have thought Farrell was on the ropes. He's found his thing -- he magnificent at playing morally tortured losers. This on top of his enormously touching turn as a somewhat similar character in Woody Allen's Cassandra's Dream tells me he's turned a big corner.
McDonagh, a famed playwright in London and New York circles, has composed a delightfully skewed, carefully balanced watercolor crime movie. And shown at the same time that he knows from visual energy and how to make a scene or shot really come off.
This is the best opening-night Sundance film I've ever seen. I know that's not saying much because the tendency is always to play soft audience pleasers, but In Bruges is a lot more than just "pleasing" or "entertaining."
Costars Brendan Gleason and Ralph Fiennes are awesome as well -- funny, vulnerable, thoughtful. The supporting cast, in fact, is one of the biggest pleasures because every character has angularity, intrigue, particularity. I'll get into this a bit more tomorrow, but this has been a delightful Sundance start.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 17, 2008 at 8:03 PM
comment #1
JB Moore
says ...
Good to know. I was hoping the trailer would mask something better, something not so GROSSE POINTE BLANK (not that there's anything wrong with that - it's just old hat ten years later). Plus, with that cast, there has to be something worth seeing. We'll see...
After THE NEW WORLD, and (I'm ducking as I type this) MIAMI VICE, I became a fan of Farrell's. Glad he has two more coming out that will hopefully just reinforce that sentiment.
CASSANDRA'S DREAM looks great. Looks like the third chapter in an unofficial trilogy (CRIMES... MATCH POINT...). Here's to the older, angrier Woodster...
Posted by JB Moore
at January 17, 2008 9:19 PM
comment #2
Mr. Gittes
says ...
How about Farrell as Pretty Boy Floyd in Michael Mann's next flick?
Good to hear about In Bruges. I can't wait to see this. Ed Douglas gave it a 9/10.
McDonagh is someone to look out for...not that he wasn't prior to In Bruges.
Posted by Mr. Gittes
at January 17, 2008 9:26 PM
comment #3
Hash
says ...
Awesome. Im seeing this at a screening next week here in Chicago. McDonagh is going to be answering some questions...I think I should try to come up with some.
Posted by Hash
at January 17, 2008 9:40 PM
comment #4
Rothchild
says ...
Best script ever.
Posted by Rothchild
at January 17, 2008 10:02 PM
comment #5
Larry
says ...
The trailer looked okay to me, but all I really needed was to see McDonagh's name. His track record is so good that's enough.
Posted by Larry
at January 17, 2008 10:34 PM
comment #6
Rothchild
says ...
Asshole Elsewhere
Jeffrey Wells skipped THE ENTIRE LINE AT THE IN BRUGES PARTY...
...WALKED UP TO THE PERSON AT THE DOOR and they said, "you'll have to wait in line, sir." He said, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!"
Jeffrey Wells is a goddamn asshole. Goodnight, everyone.
Posted by Rothchild
at January 18, 2008 12:04 AM
comment #7
scooterzz
says ...
yikes!..... wanna see where this goes....
Posted by scooterzz
at January 18, 2008 12:16 AM
comment #8
thatrader
says ...
Jeff,
Glad to hear I'm not the only one who dug "In Bruges." Seems everyone I was talking to afterward was so-so on it. Agreed that it's the best film to open Sundance in I don't know how long.
What pissed me off about the trailer is that in showing a specific with Ralph Fiennes late in the movie, it ruins the tension of an earlier scene. You know which one I mean.
Missed you at the Yarrow tonight. Too good for the press screenings? Elvis Mitchell was there, but you couldn't be? :)
Hopefully will catch you at something else.
Posted by thatrader
at January 18, 2008 12:28 AM
comment #9
BurmaShave
says ...
All of this is immaterial. What are it's OSCAR CHANCES? AWGSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHASDFASDFh Blam.
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 18, 2008 12:56 AM
comment #10
BurmaShave
says ...
http://www.worstpreviews.com/trailer.php?id=1000&item=0
Speaking of which, the DEFIANCE trailer. Plenty of milky white light, English spoken in a foreign accent, uplift, etc. Wells' worst nightmare.
Posted by BurmaShave
at January 18, 2008 1:50 AM
comment #11
jeffmcm
says ...
Rothchild, someone wants to buy you a drink, either in Park City or LA afterwards.
Posted by jeffmcm
at January 18, 2008 1:59 AM
comment #12
UnChien
says ...
You know how sometimes you squirm in your seat on someone elses behalf? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEI7ekLjLSc
Posted by UnChien
at January 18, 2008 2:18 AM
comment #13
tophertilson
says ...
McDonagh's provided some of my favorite moments in the theatre of late. THE LT. OF INISHMORE was terrific fun, as was BEAUTY QUEEN OF LENANE. THE PILLOWMAN had real emotional heft to it. So happy to hear that he might be making the transition to movies with his talent intact. Doesn't always go down that way.
Posted by tophertilson
at January 18, 2008 4:39 AM
comment #14
le corbeau
says ...
So it's better than Smokin' Aces?
Posted by le corbeau
at January 18, 2008 6:20 AM
comment #15
AJW
says ...
"...looks like nothing but fastballs, is actually about curves, sliders and change-ups."
I'm assuming Nolan Ryan fastballs, Bert Blyleven curves, Randy Johnson sliders, and, of course, Hoyt Wilhem change-ups.
Posted by AJW
at January 18, 2008 6:40 AM
comment #16
abuseintake
says ...
I have never understood the pass that Colin Farrell gets on this site. His Oxycodone addled performance in the laughably pretentious Miami vice was somewhat ameliorated by watching his Eugene levy-like eyebrows dry-humping his forehead. The guy looks like the spawn of an unholy coupling between Ernest Borgnine and Tyne Daly, and he emotes as well as a 10 pound sack of damp dryer lint. BTW I saw Jeffery yelling insults at fat people at a Whole foods hot bar.
Posted by abuseintake
at January 18, 2008 6:41 AM
comment #17
gruver1
says ...
Wells to Rothchild: I was at the back of the line and a woman in front of me asked me, "What's this party for?" I told her it was for "In Bruges" and she told her three friends, who were ahead of her, and they all giggled with excitement. I realized all of a sudden that this was a lookie-lou, pretty-please?, I-want-to meet Colin Farrell line of people with NO POWER, so I said screw this and walked to the front to ask what the deal was...not to get ahead of everyone, but to ASK. At that very moment Geoff Gilmore and his party pulled up to the curb and I figured, well, maybe I'll just join this group -- I had my laminated invite anyway and I would just flash it as I went in. So I did that. Gilmore was cool with me joining up. I can't wait in line to get into a party under anyt circmstance. It's against my principles.
Posted by gruver1
at January 18, 2008 6:56 AM
comment #18
p.Vice
says ...
Relax, everyone. We all know the life of an internet blogger is marginal at best, so if Jeffrey needs to skip the line and crash the party every once in a while to avoid the cold, clammy grip of inconsequentiality, I say let the sun shine free, my friends, as a dog's ass is surely waiting.
Posted by p.Vice
at January 18, 2008 7:05 AM
comment #19
actionman
says ...
Wow, can't wait to see In Bruges. The trailer made it out to be a fun movie...now I expect something serious. Farrell's did great, interesting work in The New World, Miami Vice and Ask the Dust and I can't wait to see him here.
Posted by actionman
at January 18, 2008 7:26 AM
comment #20
T. Holly
says ...
actionman, are you def seeing Floverclaw this weekend, cuz it's playing next Sunday. Is there a trend in movies starting as one thing and becoming another? I can think of two, L-C and TWBB (as Gaydos has said so well, way back when).
Posted by T. Holly
at January 18, 2008 8:02 AM
comment #21
le corbeau
says ...
T. Holly is a visitor from the future, speaking a form of English we only half understand.
Posted by le corbeau
at January 18, 2008 8:50 AM
comment #22
actionman
says ...
"actionman, are you def seeing Floverclaw this weekend, cuz it's playing next Sunday"
I don't follow this...
I am seeing the film tomorrow...Cloverfield that is...I'm looking forward to In Bruges.
Posted by actionman
at January 18, 2008 9:52 AM
comment #23
Rich S.
says ...
"At that very moment Geoff Gilmore and his party pulled up to the curb and I figured, well, maybe I'll just join this group -- I had my laminated invite anyway and I would just flash it as I went in."
Why did I just flash on the scene in Pee Wee's Big Adventure where he follows Milton Berle into the studio and pinches the security guard on the cheek?
Posted by Rich S.
at January 18, 2008 11:56 AM
comment #24
christian
says ...
He said, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!"
And in a line of red-staters with NO POWER to boot;]
I feel like you haven't actually lived in Los Angeles until you've honest-to-gawd heard somebody say, "Do you know who I am?" trying to gain access.
Once, I was in an oversold line at the DGA, waiting with a pissed Sean Penn and Dennis Hopper, to get into the screening of a film I was actually in, and lo, I heard those magic furious words (but not from Penn or Hopper) to the doorman. Life is too short, so I took that as my cue to leave and grab some food at Toi. Where nobody knows who I am.
Posted by christian
at January 18, 2008 12:25 PM
comment #25
gruver1
says ...
Wells to Christian: I did not say nor will I ever say, "Do you know who I am?" TO anyone. Under any circumstances. I will, however, occasionally say "eat my ass" to this and that talk-backer.
Posted by gruver1
at January 18, 2008 12:56 PM
comment #26
christian
says ...
I didn't think you actually said it, Jeff. I was just riffing on the phrase.
Posted by christian
at January 18, 2008 1:11 PM
comment #27
iamjoe
says ...
I hate any line to get into a "important" party/club/bar...if you can slip in without blatantly fucking the other people in line, more power. I declare a pass to Jeff Well.
I can't wait to see this now, it looked like there was a quiet potential when I saw the trailer in front of There Will Be Blood. And it is good for Farrell to stop taking the paycheck, he was good in Tigerland, Vice, The New World and a few others...even Minority Report.
Posted by iamjoe
at January 18, 2008 7:55 PM