Room (2015) R - 4½ Stars

Here is a little movie that sounded interesting to watch. Its the story of a woman who has been trapped in a small one room shed for over 7 years. In this time she's had a child, a young boy she named Jack, who has never experienced anything outside of the 4 walls. His mother, has created their entire universe inside consisting of games, exercise, stories to tell all while confined to their small captive room. But things cant stay this way forever, Jack is growing up and as mom decides to enlighten his world with the tales of outside which just might be the scariest part of all.

The acting is superb and Brie Larson won the academy award in 2016 for her role along with a numerous list of other awards too long to list. Young Jacob Tremblay was excellent and so believable for such a tiny tot. I was amazed at just how well he adapted to this role. The movie will tug at your heartstrings watching the bond between mother and child in such a horrific situation.

Jack (Jacob Tremblay), wakes up each morning in a 10x10 room saying hello to everything inside of it. The sink, the refrigerator, the plant, even the toilet. His mother, Joy Newsome (Brie Larson) has spent the last seven years locked in this shed raising her small son to the best of her ability. The shed consists of a TV with poor reception and when Jack and she watch it, she explains that everything in the box is make believe and not real as it's the only way to keep this inquisitive boy to his confinements. The two spend their endless days and nights drawing, telling stories and home schooling. The only other person Jack knows of is Old Nick (Sean Bridges), an old man that brings them food and other necessities. Old Nick comes at a specific time some Jack knows he must hide in the wardrobe cabinet until he leaves, never making contact with him.

Joy turns Jack's entire world on end when she decides he is old enough to help her escape from these walls. Now she must convince hi that everything he has taught him up to this point was a lie and there really is a world outside of the four walls. But the enormous outside world is just too scary for Jack
and Joy and with the help of grandma Nancy (Joan Allen) and grandpa Robert (William H. Macy) who can't even look at his innocent face, they must find a way to come together.

Element Pictures, Film 4
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Producers: David Gross, Ed Guiney
Writers: Emma Donoghue

Lost Girls (2020) R- 3 Stars

When it seems like police aren't doing nothing regarding the disappearance of Mari Gilbert's (Amy Ryan) daughter Shannan, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Based on a true story, "Lost Girls" enlightens viewers to the 12 murdered sex for hire hookers that went missing and no one seemed to care. The murderer became known as "LISK", the Long Island Serial Killer, but was't enough to keep these women off the streets.

Mari files a missing person report on the daughter she gave up at birth, but she feels Detective Richard Dormer (Gabriel Byrne), is not doing nearly enough to find her. Along with her other daughter, Sherre Gilbert (Thomasin McKenzie), Mari starts her own investigation learning of Shannan's last known whereabouts.  Joseph Brewer, living in a gated community of Long Island, was the last person to see her alive and Mari vows to not give up on her daughter for a second time, uncovering the field where the bodies were eventually discovered.

Langley Park Pictures Netflix

Director: Liz Garbus

Producer: Archer Gray

Writers: Robert Kolker, Michael Werwie

A Fall From Grace (2020) TVMA - 4 Stars

Gosh a lot of people didn't like this movie at all but I found myself wrapped up in it. Yes there are flaws like - Sarah and Grace are friends for 6 years but the new love relationship takes 42 days to set up - The baseball bat to the head and fall from stairs surely must have caused more damage - Jasmine's cop husband witnessed the woman jump from the roof but never makes any association while watching his wife prep for the case. However, the movie has enough strong acting for me to overlook the obvious flaws and get lost in the story line instead. The film focuses on the vulnerability of an older woman's yearning for love and attention.

Grace Waters (Crystal Fox), sits in jail for the murder of her husband Shannon (Mehcad Brooks). She will sign a plea bargain to save her from death row while keeping her son Malcom (Walter Fauntleroy), to take the stand in a trial or be involved with anything to do with her case.

DA Jasmine Bryant (Bresha Webb), shows up to have Grace sign the paperwork and be over and done with it. But after meeting Grace, Jasmine feels compelled to dig deeper into the case to free Grace of the charges against her. But when Jasmine calls Grace's best friends Sarah (Phylicia Rashad), to the stand, things take a turn for the worse.

Netflix
Director: Tyler Perry
Writer: Tyler Perry

Spenser Confidential (2020) R - 3½ Stars

While this is not your typical comedy, it does offer up enough sarcasm and wit to keep you entertained. Action packed with a touch of violence, Mark Wahlberg plays an ex-cop that's been in prison for attempting to take a dirty cop down. Once released hell take on the Boston Police dept to confirm his hunch regarding corrupt cops. He vows to make things right and bring down the bad guys.

The day Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) gets out of prison, he's already been warned about what's waiting on the outside for him. He's just done time for assault on a Boston police officer. As it turns out Spenser, also an ex-officer himself, is not liked by a small handful of Boston's finest. His only friend is his ex trainer, Henry (Alan Arkin), who gives him a ride and offers him a place to stay. Along with a another boxer in the house, Hawk (Winston Duke), Spenser vows to not let the cops get away with it again.

NETFLIX
Director: Peter Berg
Producers: Bill Bannerman,Eric Heffron,John Logan Pierson
Writers: Sean O'Keefe, Brian Helgeland

Hot Fuzz (2007) R - 3½ Stars

If you are in need a of British comedy, try this one by the makers of Shaun of the Dead. It's an action packed cute comedy drama that stimulates a few of your senses. While it ridicules plots found in big budget action films, Hot Fuzz is a delight.

A London cop, Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg), is too good at what he does and he's making the other cops on the force look bad. He gets transferred to the small town of Sandford, Gloucestershire in hopes he can teach proper law technique here. His new partner Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), has fantasized about what it would be like to see action in his town. Danny has watched way too many action packed movies and would like to get in on that action. Be careful for what you wish for Danny as this quiet town starts to see way too much action that even Danny are ready.

StudioCanal Rogue Pictures Working Title Films
Director: Edgar Wright
Writers: Natascha Wharton, Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg
Producers: Tim Bevan, Nira Park, Eric Fellner

Stir of Echoes: The Homecoming (2007) R - 1½ Stars

I don't think this movie did a very good job of explaining why Lowe came back as dysfunctional as he did. Even though he keeps having flashbacks, I dunno, he just wasn't very convincing to me of someone who gave a crap about much.

Ted Cogan (Rob Lowe), is a captain in the National Guard who has just returned home from his duty in Iraq. He has trouble putting his life back in order, as he is continually haunted by visions of Iraq. These visions dramatically interrupt his life when he keeps replaying faces of the innocent bystanders accidentally killed by him in Iraq. After his son takes it out on an Arab looking local boy, Ted seeks the help of a psychic to try to regain control of his life.

Lions Gate Films
Director: Ernie Barbarash
Writer: Ernie Barbarash
Producers: Philip Stilman, Claire Welland

Be Cool (2005) PG13 - 2½ Stars

This is definitely not one of Travolta's best. Though performances are solid from Travolta and Thurman, I just didn't feel connected with them or that they were trying to do the right thing. I connected with Linda Moon the most as she was the innocent victim and really all that mattered.

When close mobster friend Tommy Athens (James Woods), is murdered by the Russian mafia, Chili Palmer (John Travolta) takes over his business at a record label company. Edie Athens (Uma Thurman), was Tommy's girlfriend and the quickly warms up to Chili. Edie knows the business and between the two, the take a serious look at Linda Moon (Christina Milian). This young pretty singer has a voice and even though she is under contract with another record company, Chili wants to have her. Raji (Vince Vaughn), the owner of the other label is not willing to let her go. That doesn't stop Chili and she starts to preform for his company. But now Chili has everyone after him trying to keep him out of the business.

MGM Distribution
Director: F. Gary Gray
Writer: Peter Steinfeld
Producers: Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher, Danny DeVito

Mongol (2007) R - 4 Stars

I always grew up thinking Genghis Khan was an evil bad ruler of ancient Mongolia. Perhaps it was his name or my own lack of knowledge as to who he really was. He would go on to conquer Russia and good part of the world, in 1206. I'm not sure how much liberty the movie takes in actuality of events, but the film is visually stunning and captivating and why I am giving it such a high rating. It's also a great romantic epic. I don't think anyone can be completely accurate in recreating something from 1162, but perhaps it's changed my impression of how this ruler really was.

Filmed in China, Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan, the imagery is breathtaking. My only complaint of the movie is the way it cuts off and changes scenes and years so quickly before you realize what happened. Since the film is in Mongolian with English subtitles, at first it was hard for me to keep track of who was who. With all the horse back riding getaways, I almost wanted to label it a western. The acting is fantastic and it's based on the controversial writings of Russian historian Lev Gumilyov.

Born Chinggis Khaan in 1162, Temudgin was taken by his father to find a bride at age 9. Borte is a young girl of the village eyes Temudgin who will return to make her his bride at age 16. But life for Temudgin would be tragic when his father is killed in front of him and the Merkit's vow to return for Temudgin when he grows up. The family, now very poor, has no status in the valley and eventually they return for him.

Jamukha (Sun Hong-Lei), saves Temudgin from certain death and while he hides him, they two pledge with their blood to be brothers for ever. As the two grow older, they talk about becoming the next Khan of the people and both have different ideas of who that will be. Years later, Temudgin's (Esugei Tadanobu Asano), most important goal is to make his way back to the village to retrieve his bride Borte (Khulan Chuluun), who has been anxiously awaiting his arrival. The two return back to his village and mother, to be married.

Jamukha, now a Mongol chieftain and quickly obtaining the status of Khan will have to choose between his status, and his brother, while Temudgen quickly gains support of the Mongols who elevate him to greatness.

Picturehouse
Director: Sergei Bodrov
Writers: Sergei Bodrov, Arif Aliyev
Producers: Anton Melnik, Sergei Bodrov, Sergei Selyanov

Tropic Thunder (2008) R - 4 Stars

At first I didn't think I was really going to enjoy this movie as I thought it would turn out at yet another lamb attempt at laughter. However, the story line really took me by surprise and I thought it was not only a good comedy, but a good action / adventure film and everyone fit their roles. Great cast of names and RD Jr. is great in his role, Stiller made up for my let down of "Night at the Museum" and Cruise was funnier than I've usually seen him. Movie starts out great but fizzles out and gets a little cheesy towards the end Some pretty funny lines like RD Jr's, "I'm a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude." I recommend this funny poke at Hollywood and some of it's pompous actors.

It's been called a racist movie due to Robert Downey Jr.'s character. What about the movie, White Chicks, which I didn't think was near as funny, but I don't recall any mention of racism with that film... lighten up. I think we need to stop labeling things so precisely as it aids in keeping racial tension active. It's just a funny flick for EVERYONE, white, black and all alike.

Producer, Les Grossman (Tom Cruise), and director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan), are making a film taking place in the jungles of the Vietnam war. Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte), is a self proclaimed Vietnam vet and offers advice on where the direction of the movie should head. Production has slowed way down as the actors are too busy pampering their gi-normous egos, and don't take the filming seriously. Four Leaf suggests to Cockburn, the actors be taken to the middle of the jungle and filmed fighting their way back out. Cameras could be hidden throughout the trees, to give the film a more realistic "Gorilla style" look.

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), is just a little to full of himself. As he constantly tries to direct the film, he extends the movie way past it's budget. Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), has gone to the controversial extent of dying his skin dark, in order to play the role of an African American soldier. Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), is the overweight comedian of the group, only thinking about where he will get his next fix, out in the middle of nowhere. Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), great name btw, is the African American soldier that has to deal with Lazarus trying to think he's his "bro"and Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel) is the slower one that everyone seems to pick on or look to as the man with any military training. Along with Damien and Four Leaf, the group are dropped off in the jungles of Vietnam, not knowing a secret drug production operation is lurking right next door.

As they all start to whine over their predicament, they realise, the sooner they continue through their scenes, the sooner they can get back to the set and go home. As they move along, with exaggerated Rambo techniques, each new trail leads them to a new scene of the movie. Even when the find stumble upon a heron production plant, thinking it's part of the movie, they ad lib through their lines. Next, the group of ego baring, misfitted, irritating actors must keep themselves from being killed by the bad guys so the can bring the film to it's end.

Red Hour Films, DreamWorks
Director: Ben Stiller
Writers: Etan Cohen, Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller
Producers: Eric McLeod, Ben Stiller, Stuart Cornfeld

Jam (2006) NR - 2½ Stars

Jam is a movie that without all the special effects and props, tries to paint a simple portrait about what in life, really matters. Like the movie "Crash", Jam brings together the lives of 10 plus innocent victims who will become entwined, when they meet one Father's Day on a forest road high upon a mountain side. Jam is a decent movie to see if you're for a "let's get along" message and you don't need any special effects. A little tiny movie that opens up every one's eyes.

When a collision causes a mountain road to be cut off, many different people come in contact with each other for good or for worse. A cellist, Lorraine (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) brakes to avoid hitting a dog in the road. Ted (William Forsythe) and his son Josh (Dan Byrd), who's driving, rear end her car. A power line is brought down and too risky to try and move the cars with live wires all around and with no cell phone reception in the mountains, they have no choice but to sit it out and wait.

As the cars start piling up behind them, three girlfriends are on their way to catch a ferry to make it to her wedding on time. Many secrets are spilled and the wedding cake ruined which gives Amy (Amanda Detmer) the bride, and her friends Stephanie (Amanda Foreman) and Jen (Elizabeth Bogush) a chance to see if this if marriage is the really the right thing. Lilac (Gina Torres) and her lesbian girlfriend Rose (Mariah O'Brien), are stuck on the road while Rose is about to give birth. The seek shelter in a RV where (David DeLuise) and Curt (Christopher Amitrano) are inside frantically trying to break into a stolen ATM machine. Dale (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) is divorced and spending Fathers Day with his kids Robert (Skyler Gisondo) and Brianna (Marissa Blanchard), which he must tell them he's moving out of state. One wall street couple Gary (Jonathan Silverman) and Judy (Julie Claire), snub the rest of the world, as they must actually deal with life beyond cell phone service, nannies and lack of A/C. A nice old couple married of 30 years, Mick (Alex Rocco) and his wife Ruby (Tess Harper), breathe new life into a failing father Dale (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) who is on his special Fathers Day visitation trip with his children.

Thanksgiving Films
Director: Craig Serling
Writiers: Craig Serling, Nicole Lonner
Producer: Dianne Burnett, Craig Serling

Reign Over Me (2007) R - 3½ Stars

Adam Sandler plays an ex-dentist who has lost his mind after his wife and 3 children were killed in a plane crash. I'm pretty tired of all the silly Adam Sandler movies but he is really good in this role and gave me a new outlook on him. And of course Don Cheadle is just awesome in anything he does. This is a story of the friendship of two men who by chance meeting, find out how much they really need each other at this moment in their lives.

Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) lost everything, including his practice as a dentist, his entire family, and now even his mind. He's withdrawn from life, and most people, and has become a loner. By chance of fate, he is flagged down by an old college room mate Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) another successful dentist. Charlie is almost childlike and doesn't seem to remember a lot of details of the past as he has blanked out those memories from his mind. He rides a motorized scooter around town and eventually takes Alan for rides and exposes him to the fun side of himself. While Charlie is helping Alan realizes what it means to be alive, Alan is desperately trying to help bring life back into Charlie.

Sony Pictures
Director: Mike Binder
Writer: Mike Binder
Producers:Michael Rotenberg, Jack Binder

Gone Baby Gone (2007) R - 3 Stars

For me this movie started out on the slow side with a lot of mumble jumble that didn't make sense to me. Like, why were these two young private investigators called, were they famous or something? Affleck's roll I didn't find convincing and there was no chemistry between the couple. The story is tough to follow but finally it took a twisted series of events and pulled itself out of the hole and had a decent story line ending. Thank God for Morgan Freeman but to me, the movie is not as good as some reviews I have read.

Patrick Kenzie, (Casey Affleck) and Angie Gennaro (Michelle Monaghan) are boyfriend and girlfriend and also work together as Boston private investigators. An amber alert has been issued for a kidnapped girl. The couple watch the news in their home and sympathize with the mother Helen (Amy Ryan) and the police efforts. Three days later Helen's sister Bea McCready (Amy Madigan), and her husband Lionel (Titus Welliver), approach Patrick and Angie to hire them to help find their missing niece.

Captain Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) and Detective Remy Bressant (Ed Harris) are the lead police on the case and they don't take too kindly to the young private "dicks." But they all come to the conclusion that Helen is a drug addict and they know about her involvement in robbing drug lord big wig, Cheese (Edi Gathegi). They figure they can trade the money back to Cheese for the child. Up at the cliffs during the night, they make an arrangement to hand over the money for the child. Instead, things go wrong, shots are fired and something falls into the river below and Angie jumps from the cliff thinking it was the child.

The case is dismissed thinking the child had drown even though the her body was not found. That is until, the two stumble upon new evidence and some very unusual characters, that can cost them their lives, their love for each other and put their morals to the test.

Awards are numerous and include:

2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Austin Film Critics - Best First Film
2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best Supporting Actress
2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Boston Society of Film Critics - Best New Filmmaker
2007 - Gone Baby Gone - Chicago Film Critics Association - Most Promising Director

Miramax Films
Director: Ben Affleck
Writers: Aaron Stockard, Ben Affleck
Producers:Alan Ladd, Jr., Dan Rissner, Sean Bailey

Mad Money (2008) PG - 3 Stars

I guess the idea of the movie is feasible? NOT! But okay that aside, it has a few fun parts to it. Three ordinary women, Bridget Cardigan (Diane Keaton), Nina Brewster (Queen Latifah) and Jackie Truman (Katie Holmes) all have jobs at the local Federal Reserve Bank. The bank is where money is destroyed, and the girls decide to dip into the bins, just a tad, since it's just going to be thrown away.

Bridget lives with her husband Don (Ted Danson) and they have severe financial problems that could cost them their home, and their upper class standard of living. Don can't find work so Bridget picks up a job at the bank in the janitorial department. There she meets Nina, a single mother of two boys who's in charge of shredding the money, and Jackie, a young hip dancing girl in charge of moving the money from one area to another.

When Bridget gets tempted to touch money she looks at all day, she tries to come up with a plan of taking some of it home with her. Together with Jackie and Nina, the threesome come up with a plan to smuggle money out at the end of each shift. The women try to stay one step ahead of the authorities who are onto them even though they can't prove anything.

Overture Films
Director: Callie Khouri
Writers: Glenn Gers, Callie Khouri
Producers: James Acheson, Goldie Hawn, Frank Demartini

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) R - 2½ Stars

BTW the high school shown was filmed at my Alma Mater, John Marshall High School in Silverlake, CA. But even though, the movie didn't entertain me that much.

Martin Blank (John Cusack) returns to Grosse Pointe, Michigan for a job assignment and to attend his high school reunion. But what does he tell the people he's been doing these past 10 years? He's a hired assassin but he is growing tired of his job. His psychiatrist, Dr. Oatman (Alan Arkin), thinks it's a good idea for him to move back to Grosse Pointe as he is not thrilled having an assassin for a patient. At the reunion he meets his high school sweetheart, Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver), who still holds a grudge against him for standing her up.

Mr. Grocer (Dan Aykroyd), is a fellow hit man that wants to join forces with Martin and won't take no for an answer. Martin has to pull off one final hit.

Buena Vista Pictures
Director: George Armitage
Writers: Tom Jankiewicz, D.V. DeVincentis, Steve Pink
Producers: Roger Birnbaum, Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth

I viewed 1/19

The King (2005) R - 3½ Stars

I thought this was a real good movie through most of it but the ending was pretty weak. The characters sucked me in, only to be let down at the end.

20 year old Elvis Sandow (Gael García Bernal) has just gotten out of the Navy. He's looking for his biological father that abandoned him when he was young. When he finds out his father is Pastor David Sandow (William Hurt), he goes to Corpus Christi, TX to confront him. It seems that Pastor Sandow wants to forget that part of his sinful life for Elvis was conceived out of wedlock. Elvis agrees to allow Pastor Sandow to break the news to his family his own way but meanwhile violates Sandow's daughter Malerie (Pell James) who becomes pregnant with his child. The two sneak out a lot and her brother Paul (Paul Dano) follows them and threatens to tell on him. That costs Paul dearly and when the truth comes out, this family will never be the same.

THINKFilm
Director: James Marsh
Writers: Milo Addica, James Marsh
Producers: Milo Addica, James Wilson

I viewed 10/18

Michael Clayton (2007) R - 4 Stars

Clooney, Pollock and Winton give award winning preformances as they play off each other for control. You'll be entirely thrilled with the ending of the movie. It's true, the truth can be adjusted.

Michael Clayton's (George Clooney) job is the "fixer-upper" for a New York law firm. Having been a District Attorney, Michael knows all the loopholes of law and how to quickly get people off. Arther Edens (Tom Wilkinson) is Michael's mentor and close friend and lately the firm thinks Arthur is loosing it. Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack) the law firms president tells Michael to keep him in check as his behavior lately is questionable.

Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) is a litigator for a major company who is about to settle out in a three billion dollar law case. With so much to gain she becomes greedy and arrogant and will stop at nothing to take down her enemy. Arther is very close at finding the evidence needed to stop the settlement when suddenly he is found dead in his apartment. When Michael tries to figure out what really happened to his friend, he is almost killed too. But in the end Karen's greed costs her big time and justice is served.

Awards include:

2007 - Michael Clayton - American Film Institute - Best Picture
2007 - Michael Clayton - National Board of Review - Best Actor
2007 - Michael Clayton - Kansas City Film Critics Association - Best Supporting Actress

Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Director: Tony Gilroy
Writer: Tony Gilroy
Producers: Jennifer Fox, Steven Samuels, Sydney Pollack

I viewed 4/19

Happy, Texas (1999) PG13 - 3 Stars

I just love the versatility of William H. Macy acting. Here he plays a goofy, coming out of the closet, gay sheriff and he's great as usual. The story line is pretty silly but none the less it does have some funny moments. The acting is pretty good which helps make up.

Harry (Jeremy Northam) and Wayne Wayne Wayne Jr. (Steve Zahn) are two escaped prisoners who steal a motorhome only to find out it belongs to two gay male judges who are late getting to a beauty pageant. When they arrive in the town of Happy, Texas, Sheriff Chappy Dent (William H. Macy) gets them into the bank right away to collect half their pageant money. Being the con men they are, Harry and Wayne decide to take on the roles of two gay beauty pageant judges but are highly disappointed when they discover the girls are only 8 years old.

Harry has his eye on "Joe" Josephine McLintock (Ally Walker) the owner of the local bank. In a small town like hers, business is conducted with a hand shake and keys to vaults are left in top desk drawers. Harry makes quick note of that while he plans in his head how to rob the bank leaving Wayne to train the girls for the pageant. Wayne has no idea what to do with the girls and their teacher, Ms. Schaefer (Ally Walker), patiently tries to grasp the new techniques of his training.

Wayne and Harry are seen fighting many times which brings Sheriff Dent back into the picture as he asks Harry for a date. Staying true to character, he must accept. Wayne does start seeing a light at the end of his tunnel when he and Ms. Schaefer have wild sex.

With day of the bank robbery, the "Little Miss Fresh Squeezed" pageant event and the cops are hot on Wayne and Harry's tail, what could go wrong?

1999 - Happy, Texas - Independent Spirit Award - Best Supporting Actor.

Miramax Films
Director: Mark Illsley
Writers: Ed Stone, Mark Illsley, Phil Reeves
Producer: Mark Illsley

I viewed 5/08

In Bruges (2008) R - 3½ Stars

The movie takes some time to get used to their accents so you can understand what they are saying and catch everything. You may want to play with closed caption just so you don't miss some of the dialect. I liked the movie in it's quirky form. It's not really a comedy but more a "dramedy." Two assassins are on vacation while awaiting further orders from the boss, in Bruges, Belgium. They are sent there because the boss thinks it's a fairytale land that everyone should see at least one time in their lives.

Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) have just completed a routine hit. Routine that is until Ray accidentally kills a child in the process. It seems there was a small boy standing behind his target and Ray has not come to terms with killing a child. When Ken tries to relax and await the new orders, by touring the countryside, Ray is distracted and becomes a real kill joy for Ken. When boss man Harry (Ralph Fiennes) calls and tells Ken he wants him to ace Ray for killing a kid, Ken decides to carry out the plans. Ray is actually thinking of taking his own life and Ken arrives to save Ray from himself rather than shoot him.

But Ray meets a girl in Belgium Chloë (Clémence Poésy), and thinks that his life may have just gotten some new meaning. Along with Ken's help, Ray makes his escape to another land to carry on his new life. Harry is not pleased and comes to Bruges to take matter into his own hands. When he finds Ken has helped Ray escape, he wants his revenge on Ken. But Ray, who's supposed to be long gone, is returned to Bruges just in time to be delivered to Harry on a plate. It's show down time and who will come out on top?

Focus Features
Director: Martin McDonagh
Writer: Martin McDonagh
Producers: Peter Czernin, Graham Broadbent

I viewed 8/19