IN BRUGES

Headline: ** Flirting with Redemption and Salvation **
Title: IN BRUGES
Quality: * * * Acceptability: -3
SUBTITLES: None
WARNING CODES:
Language: LLL
Violence: VVV
Sex: S
Nudity: None

RATING: R
RELEASE: February 8, 2008
TIME: 107 minutes
STARRING: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Clémence Poésy, Jordan Prentice, and Jérémie Rénier
DIRECTOR: Martin McDonough
PRODUCERS: Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tessa Ross, Jeff Abberly and Julia Blackman
WRITER: Martin McDonough
BASED ON THE NOVEL/PLAY BY: N/A
DISTRIBUTOR: Focus Features/NBC Universal/G.E.

CONTENT: (PaPa, CC, B, LLL, VVV, S, AA, DD, MM) Strong mixed pagan worldview with strong Christian content and some moral issues discussed but not resolved in an uplifting way, including man prevents despondent guilty friend from committing suicide and argues against it; at least 153 mostly strong obscenities (mainly "f" words), five or six strong profanities, and three light profanities; very strong violence includes shootings with blood and some gore, man falls from great height, some fighting, chasing, and suicidal examples, though one suicide is prevented deliberately; implied fornication and prostitution, and references to getting prostitutes and sex; no nudity; alcohol use and drunkenness; smoking, drug use and man steals cocaine and pills from two drug dealers; and, man spouts racist theories when high and drunk then later apologizes and blames it on the cocaine he had.

GENRE: Crime Thriller
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Adults

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Focus Features/Rogue Pictures
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SUMMARY: IN BRUGES (pronounced "Brooge") is a British crime thriller about two Irish hit men, Ken and Ray, who face a moral dilemma when their crazy boss, Harry, tells the middle-aged Ken to murder the younger Ray. This violent, obscenity-laced, compelling crime thriller has some strong Christian references, but the movie's violent content, foul language, sex and drug references, and unresolved ending (which could have been more redemptive) are excessive.

IN BRIEF:

IN BRUGES (pronounced "Brooge") is a British crime thriller about two Irish hit men, Ken and Ray. The men face a moral dilemma when their crazy boss, Harry, tells the middle-aged Ken to murder the younger Ray. Harry is upset that Ray accidentally killed a young boy in church when they murdered a Catholic priest on Harry's orders. Harry has sent both men to Bruges, Belgium, so Ray will enjoy the sites in this quaint, medieval, formerly Christian city before he dies. Ray, hates it there, however, but it is Ken who finds the city's famous Christian churches re-awakening his lapsed Catholic faith.

This violent, obscenity-laced, but compelling thriller has some strong Christian references. Not only is there Ken's newfound interest in his lapsed Christian faith, but viewers also learn that Ray himself is struggling with the guilt he feels over accidentally killing the boy. Regrettably, the movie abandons this Christian content for a bittersweet ending that leaves the salvation of Ken and Ray in strong doubt. Overall, therefore, the movie's violent content, foul language, sex and drug references, and unresolved ending are ultimately excessive, especially when added together.