In Bruges

Martin McDonagh’s 2008 debut feature strands two hitmen in Bruges with nothing to do but wait out a botched job. The idea came from the writer’s own weekend. In the Focus Features production notes McDonagh says he had diverging feelings about the place and began imagining two characters who would respond to Bruges in distinct ways. The film’s argument about whether the city is beautiful or boring is structure, not a gag: both sides are the author. Shooting began in early February 2007 and ran two months. The same notes record that the city put the Christmas decorations, trees and lighting back up for the shoot, then took them down again: the winter postcard look was dressed, not found. It is a British and American production shot in Belgium. Its single Academy Award nomination was for the original screenplay, which went to Milk and Dustin Lance Black. McDonagh already had an Oscar, won in 2006 for the live action short Six Shooter. Colin Farrell took the Golden Globe for lead actor in a musical or comedy, with Gleeson and the film also nominated. A good fit if you want one writer’s two opposite reactions split between two men. Not for anyone for whom suicidal thinking sits close to home: the film treats it directly and inside the jokes.