8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
Hit men Ray and Ken have been ordered to cool their heels in the storybook city of Bruges, Belgium, after botching a big job. But since hit men make the worst tourists, they soon find themselves in a life-and-death struggle of comic proportions against one very angry crime boss.
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Jérémie RenierDrama | 100% |
Crime | 73% |
Dark humor | 71% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
D-Box
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In Bruges is not the film trailer-trollers tend to think it is, and that's a very, very good thing. It isn't a cheeky, Brit-born crime comedy. It isn't a wry, Guy Ritchie-inspired guns-n-gangsters blowout bristling with comicbook hitmen and cartoonish thugs. It isn't Intermission or Six Shooter, nor can it really be confined to any one genre. Make no mistake, In Bruges is meatier, more meaningful fare. It's a somber black comedy driven by gut-wrenching regret and redemption; a wry dual-character study designed to dissect loss, remorse, and loyalty; a pithy tragedy of consequence that turns ethics and morality against one another. That's not to say Irish writer/director Martin McDonagh's biting humor doesn't get in the way of the darker aspects of his story -- it sometimes does -- but his award-winning sophomore outing is so unpredictable and unexpectedly moving that its faults, few and far between as they are, barely register.
"If I grew up on a farm, and was retarded, Bruges might impress me. But I didn't, so it doesn't."
The quality of Universal's 1080p/VC-1 transfer isn't immediately apparent. Eigil Bryld's gloomy palette isn't exactly bursting with color, noise spikes at inopportune times, black levels aren't as deep as one might hope, dimensionality is a bit flat, and soft shots pepper the film. But when measured by its faithfulness to McDonagh and Bryld's intentions, Universal's technically proficient presentation proves its worth. Skintones, though entirely dependent on their surroundings, are warm and lifelike. Primaries, particularly those in Bruges' hearthy interiors, are vibrant and stable, and contrast is wonderfully restrained and entirely filmic. Fine detail ranges from decent to remarkable, delivering refined textures, crisp edges, revealing closeups, and unhampered grain. Moreover, delineation is fairly generous, and significant ringing, artifacting, smearing, and banding are held at bay. It may not translate into the most jaw-dropping presentation, but the studio's tactful transfer is nevertheless an impressive one.
The same could be said of Universal's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Though reserved on the whole, In Bruges' lossless soundscape is quite arresting, giving every nook and alley of the quiet Belgian city a rather convincing presence in the mix. Dialogue is intelligible and nicely prioritized -- be it delivered with Farrell's perched-on-the-edge Irish lilt, Fiennes' barbed barks, or Gleeson's soothing assurances -- and only a handful of heavily accented whispers fall by the wayside. The LFE channel isn't tasked with much, but rises to the film's drunken fistfights and chaotic chases with the best of them. The rear speakers fill a support role as well, but do a fine job establishing interior acoustics, handling directional effects, and creating a capable soundfield. Restaurants are filled with the faint symphony of chattering diners and clattering silverware, a bustling film set buzzes with activity, a shallow stairwell toys with Fiennes and Farrell's voices, and a windy bell tower captures the suitably ominous lull of the night air. From there, clean separation, easy-breezy-beautiful pans, and at-times rambunctious dynamics only help the experience. In Bruges isn't going to shake your shutters or raise the hair on your neck, but it will satisfy fans and newcomers alike.
Unfortunately, the Blu-ray edition of In Bruges is loaded with blanks. A solid collection of "Deleted and Extended Scenes" (SD, 18 minutes) is easily the highlight of Universal's anemic supplemental package, a "Boat Trip Around Bruges" (SD, 6 minutes) is exactly what you'd expect, and a rather amusing "Gag Reel" (SD, 6 minutes) adds a pinch of humor to the mix. BD-Live Functionality, D-Box support, streaming previews, a Live News Ticker, and My Scenes bookmarking are also included.
In Bruges isn't at all what I expected it to be. Funnier, more poignant, and more memorable than I imagined, it relies on a trio of outstanding performances, a fantastic script, plenty of laughs, a welcome dose of tragedy, and several genuine gut-punches to set it apart. Universal's Blu-ray release isn't as resistant to criticism -- its superficial supplemental package disappoints -- but its AV presentation is both faithful and proficient. And ultimately, little else really matters. At the very least, In Bruges deserves a spot in your rental queue.
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Limited Edition to 3000 - SOLD OUT
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Includes Beanie
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