"In Bruges". See it.

I finally got a chance to watch playwright Martin McDonagh's film, "In Bruges", with Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell. Brilliant.

Gleeson and Farrell play two present day hitman hiding out in Bruges, a town located in the northwest part of Belgium, in the Flemish Region. Now, the packaging of the DVD would suggest this is a comedy - as would the coming attractions trailer seen in movie theaters or on television. Even during the opening sequences which contained tight shots of the city and its architecture, my friend Donovan (who's a teacher and screenwriter) commented, 'this is a comedy?'.

It's actually a dark comedy, which is a whole nuther ballgame. So you have to listen closely and pay attention throughout. God - the city itself is gorgeous. Any writer's haven (like Ireland wouldn't be...but that's a nuther...whole nuther subject).

My friend Justyna, who spent 10 days in Belgium with her mother recently but never made it to Bruges, raved about the country. The added footage on the DVD includes "Fooking Bruges"" - an edited 2 minute piece containing all the swearing and verbal assaults on the good city of Bruges (which was funnier than the gag reel on the DVD), as well as a visually aesthetic boat ride throughout the canals of Bruges from the rider's perspective.

McDonagh is known for his critically acclaimed Irish trilogy which includes the plays: The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and The Banshees of Inisheer. Equally as well-known are the plays The Beauty Queen of Leenane and The Lonesome West. He won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film for Six Shooter. A film I watched and, though interesting, couldn't figure out why, of all the films entered into competition, it came to win the Oscar. Anyway, "In Bruges" is a great flick with sharp, intelligent dialogue and a great premise. This is the comedy I prefer to watch, act in and write in my plays. Dark.

Rent it. And go to Bruges if you get a chance.