--- title: "In Bruges: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/in-bruges/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/in-bruges" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # In Bruges (2008): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 12 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to In Bruges, with praise centred on Martin McDonagh’s profane dialogue and the partnership between Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Farrell’s vulnerability and comic timing receive particular attention, while Gleeson earns approval for his quieter work. The reviews frequently find that the hitmen’s bickering gives familiar gangster material an unexpected degree of humanity. Bruges also matters: its picturesque streets sharpen the contrast with the violence and help establish the characters through their differing reactions to the city. Agreement is stronger on the performances than on the plotting or shifts in tone. Some critics find the comedy and sadness persuasive together; others think the later action strains credibility. Variety praises the leads’ chemistry but finds the plotting and direction weak. Slant Magazine dissents more sharply, judging the dialogue overwritten and the mixture of levity and gravity unconvincing, leaving a broadly favourable consensus with a few substantial objections. ## The AV Club — Tasha Robinson Rating A-. 7 February 2008. McDonagh balances whip-crack comedy with character exploration in a dialogue-heavy script that shifts kaleidoscopically between tones; the leads sell the mix of farce and thriller elements flawlessly. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/in-bruges-1798203742) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 18 April 2008. The critic praises Colin Farrell's superb, moody and funny lead performance as a hitman alongside Brendan Gleeson, calling the film a cracking comedy-noir. McDonagh's whip-smart dialogue and direction are highlighted as making the film exhilarating and awards-worthy. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/apr/18/drama.thriller) ## Empire — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 April 2008. The critic finds In Bruges a wonderfully fresh, provocative and very funny take on the British gangster movie, unruly and foul-mouthed but thoughtful and original. It singles out the strong character work, especially Colin Farrell's vulnerable performance and the sharp dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/bruges-review/) ## Little White Lies — Kevin Maher Rating 1/4/4. 18 April 2008. The critic finds the premise initially unpromising due to its title and lead actor but praises the relentless profane dialogue reminiscent of prime Mamet. The infectious joy of the performances and witty script lingers even as the thematic message fades quickly. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/in-bruges) ## Radio Times — Damon Wise Rating 4/5. The critic describes the violent black comedy as intelligent, entertaining and surprisingly original despite familiar gangster tropes. The central relationship and philosophical musings between the two hitmen drive the film and deliver an affecting take on despair and redemption. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-0gzxqr/in-bruges/) ## Time Out — Wally Hammond Rating 4/5. 15 April 2008. The critic calls the film a clever and enjoyable revamp of the odd-couple gangster caper with strong verbal sparring and moral sophistry. McDonagh’s naturalistic dialogue stands out as a highlight, aided by excellent turns from Gleeson and Farrell. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/in-bruges) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 April 2008. The review calls it a laugh-out-loud dark comedy that gives Colin Farrell his finest role in ages, with bloody laughs from its jet-black farce about hitmen in Bruges. It praises the witty dialogue but notes the writer/director is stronger on that than on story. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/in-bruges-review/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 January 2008. Festival review. The critic notes that McDonagh’s debut wrings another hit-man comedy from the genre with flair for dialogue and inanity delivering laughs amid the violence. Tentative cinematic skills are offset by the playwright’s loyal audience appeal and the story’s mix of siteseeing and guilt in Bruges. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/features/in-bruges/4036660.article) ## The Times — Cosmo Landesman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 April 2008. The film is described as a darkly comic gangster story with a tragic backbone, where the setting of Bruges enhances the characters' humanity and the violence in the gags. Farrell's performance is charming but flawed with exaggerated expressions, while Gleeson's is quietly outstanding. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/in-bruges-the-sunday-times-review-br3gwb75zrv) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 4 February 2008. The film deliberately pollutes a pretty heritage town with blood, brains, and foul language. Lane finds the approach bullying rather than convincing and singles out Gleeson's performance for holding the viewer's attention. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/02/11/strangers) ## IndieWire — Nick Pinkerton 5 February 2008. The critic finds the film a lively, dialogue-driven hitman comedy with strong performances from Farrell and Gleeson that effectively blends humor and darker elements. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-hit-me-baby-one-more-time-martin-mcdonaghs-in-bruges-73032/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 7 February 2008. The film is an endlessly surprising, very dark human comedy driven by its characters' peculiarities. Ebert praises the lead performances, especially Farrell and Gleeson, and notes the film's effective use of the Bruges setting to develop them. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/in-bruges-2008) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager 3 February 2008. McDonagh stuffs the script with overly written speeches and fails to balance levity and gravity, resulting in a phony, pretentious crime film; the appealing lead duo and competent framing provide small consolation. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/in-bruges/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 8 February 2008. The film is an amusing trifle whose comedy of words and wounds has some sting. Dargis notes the hit men's contrasting reactions to the medieval city and the director's flair for red imagery and profane dialogue. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/08/movies/08brug.html) ## Variety — Robert Koehler 18 January 2008. Festival review. McDonagh's debut is moderately fair as a character study of two hitmen but overly far-fetched once the action begins. Koehler praises the natural chemistry between Gleeson and Farrell but criticizes the weak plotting and direction. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2008/film/reviews/in-bruges-1200553560/) ## Paste — Sean Edgar Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 2008. The critic praises the film's stylistic clashes between ultraviolence, medieval Europe, and irony in its story of two hitmen hiding out. They single out the visual juxtaposition of staccato violence against Bruges' fairy-tale cityscape, which complements the irreverent and hilarious dialogue from the cast. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/colin-farrell/in-bruges) ## The Skinny — Laura Smith Rating ★★★★. 1 April 2008. The critic describes it as a shaggy, volatile crime caper with sharp dialogue and absurd humour, highlighting Farrell's unexpectedly brilliant performance and the joyous lunacy of the climactic finale. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/in-bruges-film-of-the-month) ## Den of Geek — Mark Oakley Rating 4 out of 5. 22 April 2008. The critic calls it a superb film that redeems Colin Farrell after lesser roles, praising its fresh take on the gangster genre with human characters, witty dialogue and strong performances from Farrell, Gleeson and Fiennes. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/in-bruges-review/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson 18 January 2008. Festival review. The film feels like two short films joined together, with a strong dark comedy in the first half that gives way to a derivative and neatly resolved gangster story in the second. The lead performances and early humor are highlights, but the later plot developments and score detract from the overall impact. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/in-bruges-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## /Film — Zach Lawrence 24 February 2008. The film is a shockingly decent surprise mixing hilarious dark comedy with poignant sadness through its witty banter and character-driven story of hitmen hiding in Bruges. The strong performances, especially Farrell's comedic chops and the central relationship, make it a standout that blends humor with emotional depth. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/498363/movie-review-in-bruges/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/in-bruges.md