‘I WAS STRUCK BY HOW BEAUTIFUL BRUGES WAS'
Actor Brendan Gleeson and theatre director Martin McDonagh talk to Miles Fielder about In Bruges, a Beckettian comedy thriller
etween filming the twin swords and sandals
epics Troy and Kingdom of Heaven in Malta
and Morocco in 2004. much-in-demand Dublin—born actor Brendan (ilecs‘on nipped home to Ireland to make a short film called Six Shooter. A comparatively modest project in every sense 7- no other well-known actors. lirst-time director. no budget -— the 27-minute long lilm went on to win the 2006 Oscar for Best Live Action Short. Two years and two appearances in Harry Potter lilms later (ileeson has reunited with Six Shooter‘s writer—director. the Anglo- lrish playwright Martin Mcl)onagh. to make the man's feature film debut. In Bruges. It's a black comedy about a pair of' professional hitmcn (one played by (ileeson. the other by (‘olin l‘arrell) who are sent to lie low in the medieval Belgian city alter a job
in London goes wrong. The lilm plays like li‘iiitinggtor
(iodot meets Reservoir Dogs.
‘I went there and was struck by how beautiful the city was.' says 38-year-old Mcl)onagh. ‘But I was surprised it had never been used in a film before. because it was very iconic. I was walking round and these two characters just popped up in my head: one guy who hates the place and one who loves it. When I got back to London I had the idea these guys should be hitmcn. and everything else came from that.‘
‘Martin's work is robust yet delicate.‘ (ileeson says. ‘You have this combination of the worst of humanity and yet a feeling of connection to these people. They‘re all too human. And that‘s a challenge for an audience and an actor.‘
McDonagh‘s also well-known in theatre circles. He's twice won the ()livier Award and been nominated four times for a Tony. His six stage plays
42 THE LIST 10—24 Apr 2008
and two radio dramas combine dark tragedy and
black humour (The Lieutenant of" IIII.\III)I()I'('. for example. concerns the leader of an IRA splinter
faction who goes insane when his cat is killed) and have earned Mcl)onagh a reputation as one of the progenitors of ‘in your face theatre. That tough btit comic tone has been carried over into In [fr/rues. which hinges upon generating sympathy for and laughs from the l'otilmouthcd murderers.
‘That‘s where Brendan is key to this lilmf Mcl)onain says. 'He conveys great strength and compassion. and shows you that a warm-hearted hitman does not have to be a contradiction in terms. This is a lilm about violence. loyalty and honour. but it also catches the innocence in and great affection between the two men. and finally it deals with an opportunity for redemption.'
The film's themes may overlap with Mcl)onagh‘s theatre work. but In Brttges is very cinematic in terms of the rise of its lilemish locations. the atmospheric photography. low-key performances and the rapid-lire editing. But. as (ileeson notes. Mcl)onain has always professed to be primarily influenced by Scorsese.
Lynch and 'l'arantino. ‘lle‘s been a keen student of
lilm all of his lil'e.~ says the 53-year-old. who gave tip teaching for screen acting 20 years ago. 'And I think his plays are very cinematic. So. when we were making Siv Shooter I could tell .‘ylartin knew what he was doing. ()n In Britges he was even more conlident. So there were no nerves on my part in working with a first. now second time director.‘
In Bruges is on general release from Fri 18 Apr. See review, right.
5.
Becket nd bullet
The 39 Steps l litclittoi‘k's splendid 1035) adaptation of Scot .loliri liiichan's much loved novel returns to the big screen courtesy of new digital and 35mm prints. See ieView. right. Ii/mliouse. [dinning/i, In It Iliu If/lpr.
In Bruges Writing for Godot meets Ilie Killers in this excellent hitman comedy thriller starring Brendan (Eleeson and (John l arrell. See interwew left and revrew. right. (ieneta/ release from In 18 Apr.
[REC] (‘ienuinely creepy Spanish shaky cam /oinbie flick from the makers of 9005's Fragile. See profile, page 44 and review. page (if). St.’/O(Ji(?(I release from Fri 7 1 Apr.
Happy-Go-Lucky Mike leigh's heartwarming study of a modern day optimist. See feature. page 18 and review. right. Selected release from I r/ 78 Apr.
Son of Rambow l over tale of a childhood friendship. Out now on general re/ease.
The Conformist Bernardo Bertolucci's seminal 19/0 adaptation of Albert Moravra's 19508 novel is still out there on this new digital print. (3/ 7, Glasgow, Sun 75% Iue t5 Apr.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Julian Schnabel's superb adaptation of Jeans Dominique Bauby's popular book is back by public demand. Film/rouse. Edinburgh, Fri 7 7~Tue 75 Apr.
Marcello Mastroianni Italian actor Mastroianni is honoured by a great selection of his films. See preVIew. page 46. Film/rouse, Edinburgh from Sat 79 Apr.
Tarkovsky Long- anticipated book of essays by top film critics about the cinema of the great Russian filmmaker. See film books round-up. Out now (Black Dog Pub/ishi’ng).