Martin McDonagh Films Ranked

2. In Bruges (2008)

10 Best In Bruges Moments

In Bruges is one of the most quotable movies in history, and that’s saying something when virtually all of it is offensive. That’s the power of Martin McDonagh’s intricate character dynamics, quick as a pistol dialogue, and unflinching desire to squeeze every last drop out of each and every scene.

This 2008 movie is actually very similar to McDonagh’s Oscar-winning short film Six Shooters from 2004, whether it be the casting of Brendan Gleeson, the dark backstories of his characters, or the almost operatic narrative. Here, things do seem a little more grounded, and Colin Farrell excels in the special atmosphere this film delivers: a place between reality and fantasy (“it’s like a fairytale, init?”)

As is the case with each McDonagh film, In Bruges begins in a seemingly mundane way, with characters not too different to any of us, and then unravels dark truths that force us to question our allegiances and moral standards. It’s subversive work, because of course it is (this is a McDonagh film after all), but for a story with so little by the way of massively unbelievable moments it does truly keep you hooked every step of the way.

Perhaps more so than even in Three Billboards, McDonagh seems determined to challenge himself to getting us onto the same side as awful people – in this case a child killer and a hitman – and in managing to do so in such a funny, quotable, and memorable way, proves his talent and then some. It may not be as visually resplendent as some of his other work (though the flourishes are there), but In Bruges remains a modern British (and Irish) classic, one of the great filmmaking debuts of the 21st century.


1. The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

The Banshees of Inisherin Review

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin is a modern masterpiece, the ultimate McDonagh offering of tragedy, dark humour and melancholia, performed to its limits by a core cast producing once-in-a-lifetime portrayals.

Re-teaming with the centrepieces of his debut feature In Bruges (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson), McDonagh fuses his wordy dialogue with everyday conversations that push the narrative and pull at the heart strings. At the core of his work is a beautiful metaphor for male suffering and the Irish wars, each of which offer depth to every story beat, character decision and seemingly mundane encounter.

This is filmmaking operating on so many levels it can wash over you at first, burying into your mind almost subconsciously as it presents big revelations in quiet moments and makes a big deal out of small disputes, all in the name of uncentring you and bringing yet more meaning to its metaphorical intentions.

More than clever – and it is so absurdly clever – The Banshees of Inisherin manages to speak to a truth in men that is rarely seen on screen: depression and anxiety. Within this on-the-surface simple narrative of two friends falling out there is a dark truth about man’s purpose being deeply attached to their service and thus their physicality, there is a profound encapsulation of the silence that comes with male suffering. There are the funny moments you’d expect to come from a Martin McDonagh film, of course, but it’s the melancholic truth it speaks that enhances this movie beyond the confines of its genre and of its screenwriter’s traditional work to become something altogether more moving and profound. The Banshees of Inisherin is truly the great achievement of Martin McDonagh’s feature filmmaking career.

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Which Martin McDonagh film would you consider to be his best? Which moments from his filmography most stick in your mind? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to follow @thefilmagazine on Facebook and Twitter to never miss another insightful movie list.

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