November 21st, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
Before you embark on the latest quick weight loss program, you need to understand a few things about your goals and reasons for wanting to lose weight in the first place. I know that may seem like a stupid statement, but it’s not if you take a few minutes just to think about it.
What are your weight loss goals? Do you want to lose 10 pounds or 100? Perhaps you just want to drop a dress size or two while you help your over weight partner lose a significant amount of weight. It’s important to look at the reasons why you or members of your family want to lose weight; your answer will have a lot to do with your motivation to start and, more important to stay the course with your new way of eating.
With your quick weight loss goals in hand, there are a few things you need to know about diets in general that will have a profound impact on your success, or failure, in losing weight.
Most Diets Don’t Work
Most diets leave you feeling hungry, weak and deprived. You stagger through the day with a grumbling stomach, but sooner or later you cave in and order a pizza with double cheese. Feeling perpetually hungry is the primary reason that people give up on their diet.
The diet is too complicated and time-consuming to follow. You spend each day weighing and measuring food, calculating carbs or calories and keeping food diaries. Perhaps this is fun initially, but then it all just becomes a burden. You’re too busy to follow a diet that feels more like a math exam.
You feel bad. Many diets cut out essential nutrients, leaving you feeling lethargic, lacking energy and concerned about your health. Is it little wonder people give up?
Why Have We Become So Fat?
Around 43% of men and 33% of women are overweight, and an additional 22% of men and 23% of women are obese (and these figures are rising all the time). In the last decade the percentage of adults who are obese has increased by over 50%.The rate of increase in obesity in children is even worse. So what’s happening to us? Why, in a relatively short time, have we gained so much weight?
It’s not as if we lack awareness of weight issues. There are shelves full of books and racks of magazines with cover stories on diets and fitness regimens. The media have latched onto the ‘obesity epidemic’ with a fervor – fat is big news these days.
The answer to our collective weight crisis is simple: we’re consuming more calories than we’re expending, and the resulting surplus is stored around our waists, hips and thighs as fat. (Maybe it’s found a nice spot on your upper arms, too.)
There’s no mystery here. But to understand why we seem to be consuming more calories, we need to get back to basics and look at the three fundamental elements of our diet: carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
I’m sure you’ve heard about these characters. We need to understand how they work together, whether we’re in the process of getting fat or thin, and the role they play in our digestive system.
Only when you understand how these factors and how your body works, will you be able to succeed on your quick weight loss program once and for all.
For many years the government’s stance on quick weight loss programs has been to follow a low fat diet. Yet for the last 2 decades the obesity rate has increased dramatically. People who have decided to take their health into their own hands and follow a low carb easy weight loss program have started to see the rewards for their efforts. Should you do the same?
November 16th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
It isn’t really surprising to learn that countless celebrities love tattoos, nor is it surprising that those who are in the public eye and in the media can have quite a significant influence on the American population’s fascination with tattoos. The stars have a variety of tattoos, and so pretty much all of their fans crave tattoos also.
For celebrities, age is not a real factor; older stars just like the younger ones have them too. We know all of these people well – but how much do we identify with the distinctive styles of artwork they choose?
One of America’s greatest movie stars, Robert DeNiro, has appeared in movies sporting no few tattoos. Whether or not his fans work out that they are only accessories for his films, the fact is in real life Robert DeNiro has only one tattoo, that of a black panther.
Another great actor who shows off assorted tattoos in his movies is Johnny Depp; however all of his, are real. Bruce Willis also has a few tattoos; notably the symbol of his movie “Die Hard.”
Tattoos have been in style for a very long time with the top musicians who can sport the largest number and most radical and hardcore of designs. The former teen idol Justin Timberlake has a guardian angel, amongst others. Rapper Eminem has more tattoos than you can shake a stick at, including his daughter’s name and his own. The wording on Keith Urban’s wrist, “Omni Vincit Amor” is Latin for ‘Love Conquers All;’ he also has an eagle on one arm.
Sports celebrities also known to go for tattoos. Michael Jordan has his fraternity symbol tattooed above his heart, whilst Dennis Rodman is a virtual canvas of artwork.
Not to be outdone, numerous female stars also show assorted degrees of artwork. Young actress Drew Barrymore is basically a canvas full of tattoos and it is said that she created the larger part of the designs herself. Reese Witherspoon is a little more subtle, wearing only one small star tattoo which is hardly ever visible.
Pamela Anderson has a variety of tattoos also, the most notable of these being the word ‘Mommy’ on one finger, which reportedly used to read ‘Tommy.’ Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has five stars to represent every member of her family, her husband’s initials, and the traditional Jewish phrase ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’
Some of the modern supermodels also brandish tattoos. Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, and Stephanie Seymour all have these changeless forms of fashion accessories. Many supermodels who opt for tattoos show fewer and smaller designs than celebrities in other fields. While very many celebrities have worn tattoos for a very long time, the popularity of tattoos amongst stars has been increasing, both in the group of celebrities who carry them and the multitude of tattoos that they wear. Only a very few have just one tattoo. More and more are taking on a generous bunch of tattoos as well as more visible tattoos, using skin as a canvas for nearly unlimited varieties of ageless artwork.
As celebrities show off their love of tattoos, and this is picked up by the media, it presents an ever-increasing influence for their fans, especially amongst the younger fans, who want to do likewise. As with anything else that stars do in the public eye, their influence with tattoos helps this form of artwork become more widespread, more trendy, and more acceptable to most of the American population altogether.
Mark has a great site full of tips on tattoo designs. Please take a look at http://www.tattoodesigns365.com
November 14th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
Every year, we, the people/fans of celebrity entertainment, are bombarded with big screen productions of the next ‘it’ movie for our viewing pleasure, or, in some instances, what becomes our displeasure, leaving us contemplating the sizable monetary hole in our budgeting pockets at this latest perceived blockbuster expense and wondering, “What the hell was that about?”
Just as the general public is questioning these instant DVD arrivals, some genius out in Hollywood land comes up with The Raspberry Awards, in essence, to gift the worst picture, actor, actress, and so on, of the year…Remember Halley Berry and Cat Woman? So deserving of that darn golden statue, was she not? and was she not such a trooper to have the nerve to show up to accept the little stinker?
I promised you 3 more stinker movies, along with the actors, I feel need to take their place alongside Ms. Berry for their Razzie…Drum Roll, please…Bewitched, starring, the lovely Aussie, Nicole Kidman and Will Farrell. Neither of which was remotely convincing in their parts. Nicole could barely twitch. Did not even come close to the original star power of that famous twinkle done so brilliantly by Elizabeth Montgomery. Will Farrell left me emotionless; the man had no character substance. Who was that guy?
Since the movie’s release in 2006, It has gotten its share of raspberry posts…I had to contribute.
Little Man. What idiotic concept! The movie was the brainchild of the most innovative, creative, ground breaking families of color in television! How did they contemplate the works of such garbage? First of all, the premise was oddly insulting , all too predictable and totally a wash. I would only recommend this movie to my worst movie critic foe.
Then, comes Wild Hogs. Whose watching this star studded debacle? I am sure, the initial draw to this number 1 DVD rental was the array of star power, inclusive of John Travolta, a heart breaker since back in the days of Welcome Back Carter and The Boy In The Bubble, not to mention the trilogy of Quentin Tarentino films… Mister, he had my vote. As did Martin Lawrence, A Thin Line Between Love And Hate;
Martin’s the man! Tim Allen and William H. Macy rounds out the cast of four aging bikers who set out for one more fling with their bikes, leaving their wives, lives and cellphones behind! Unbelievable! The whole movie, unbelievable…There was one bright spot for this writer, however and that was Peter Fonda riding in on the back seat of his Harley(whatever…I am no biker chick)
These movies in my humble opinion were and are, truly worthy of the Raspberry Awards… I rest my case.
Clara B. Freeman is a freelance copy /entertainment writer/poet and columnist living in Illinois. To learn more about her work, visit her website http://www.clarawriter.com
November 14th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
Tod Haynes’ 2007 docu-drama “I’m Not There” is a poetic meditation on the life and career of Bob Dylan. In tone and structure, the film is a radical departure from traditional music biopics.
Haynes’ screenplay accepts as its basic premise, that Dylan’s story is too enigmatic to be summarized in conventional narrative terms. His solution is to cast six different actors to portray different aspects of Dylan’s personality, at various stages in his lengthy career. The characters are given alternate names (like Jude Quinn, or Billy the Kid) and their stories take liberties with Dylan’s life (one of them is an actor, not a musician) in order to convey the shifting nature of Dylan’s art. The actors include both an African American boy and a woman.
The woman is Cate Blanchett. Along with Heath Ledger, they deliver the two most solid Dylan incarnations in the film. Blanchett was nominated for an Oscar for her vivid portrayal of Dylan in the mid-sixties. She brilliantly conveys the alienation that comes with fame, and the pointlessness of celebrity.
Ledger, on the other hand, plays Dylan later in life– after he had turned his back on pop music. His scenes depict the breakup of Dylan’s marriage, and the inherent difficulty of balancing a public persona with a private life. Ledger’s performance is introspective and understated, like Dylan’s albums in the early seventies.
The other performances are good too, but none can overcome Haynes’ self-conscious, reference-stuffed script. He incorporates many allusions to the real-life Dylan which are disorganized and lacking context.
Using song titles as dialogue, for example, strikes a particularly hamfisted tone. In one scene, Cate Blanchett’s Jude Quinn is confronted by a crazed fan with a knife. When a groupie subdues the fan by smashing a bottle over his head, Quinn quips, “Just like a woman!” Winks and nods to real-life Dylan trivia needn’t be so cringe inducing as that!
It begs the question as to whether Haynes’ entire approach is even necessary. Surely a traditional biopic like “Walk The Line” feels genuine (in part) because Johnny Cash talks like a real person. If he cuddled up next to his wife June and whispered in her ear, “I walk the line… because you’re mine,” no one would take the film seriously.
Fortunately, for each such misstep, “I’m Not There” corrects course with a sure-footed step. (Richie Havens delights in a brief singing role, and David Cross steals a scene as poet Allen Ginsburg.) But by the end, writer/ director Haynes has meandered too much. “I’m Not There” offers only a vague semblance of a musician and his art. Maybe this is all one can expect when the subject of the piece is as enigmatic as Dylan.
Yet we are left to wonder: perhaps seeing six different sides of Bob Dylan is simply another side of Bob Dylan too many.
Grade: B
Written By Jacob Destree
Do you love the cinema too? Go to Jacob Destree’s Movie Blog and read all about the latest blockbusters and classic movies. Only at jacobdestree.wordpress.com!
November 10th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
More and more women are victims of an artificial make-up base, as a result they are plagued by chronic problems of acne, pimples, clogged pores etc. many women use make-up almost every day, and often they use the wrong kind of make-up. A cream based foundation is not really good for your skin. More and more women are opting for healthier options like natural mineral base. Here the foundation, which is in the form of a loose powder, offers nourishment to the skin under the layer of make-up. The following tips might be handy in choosing the mineral make-up base that suits your skin:-
1. Look for a water-resistant primer.
Mineral make-up needs along with it something which will help it to set, like a primer or a cream base. So you should only opt for those products that include within the package sprays, creams or even gels that can fulfill this function and keep your make-up in place.
2. Choose a line with bronzers.
Mineral make-up usually endows you with a matte finish look. So to enhance the glow in your skin you can go for a bronzer to blend in with the make-up to brighten the effect.
3. Pick mineral makeup with SPF-infusions.
To avoid the use of sunscreens you can hunt for those mineral make-up bases that have a SPF factor of 15-30. Now products such as Bare Minerals and Eminence organics both can effectively act as sunscreens.
4. Pick a line that doesn’t contain filler ingredients.
Cheaper brands of mineral make-up often contain ingredients such as bismuth and parabens that may cause irritation and other skin problems. So before investing in a product always check the ingredients. Many of the best brands like Eminence Organics, Purely Cosmetic etc use the most natural ingredients and are toxin free.
5. Try the makeup on your face, not on your hand!
Before buying the make-up please test it on your face not your hand, because the skin tone of your face and your hand might not match. So apply the make up below your cheek bone and see if the tone matches your skin or not.
6. Purchase one shade darker for spring and summer.
And when you get hold of the right color check to see what is the shade darker than that one in the same product range, immediately above the one you have chosen. A natural look will be better affected by a shade just one degree darker than your skin tone.
7. Look for titanium dioxide on the ingredients list.
Titanium dioxide is an anti-inflammatory mineral which is a lot of help for those with extra-sensitive skin. So keep a look out for this.
8. Find a complementing concealer.
Liquid concealers help to conceal dark circles and other spots or marks on your face, thus it is a must for every make-up kit. Many mineral make-up products have a liquid concealer which needs to be applied beneath the make-up base itself. It matches and blends in with the make up.
So, we see that mineral make-up has many advantages, but in a bewildering array of brands, latching in on the right one may prove to be difficult. Just check the ingredients and avoid those which have excessive toxin content.
Visit Mineral Makeup Facts for more information about using mineral makeup to get a flawless finish and to buy mineral makeup products that are tried and tested. Mineral Makeup Facts has tutorials, articles and offers to guide you through buying and using mineral makeup
November 10th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
If you are looking for a fanciful tale, then the Chinese zodiac symbols can definitely satisfy that mythology craving. It is the story of a Jade King asking twelve animals to come to court. These twelve animals were used to form the Chinese zodiac signs.
The twelve animals were the rat, ox, tiger, dragon, rabbit, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and the pig. Instead of the pig, the twelfth sign should have been the cat but that rat was tricky and “forgot” to invite him.
All story telling aside, the Chinese zodiac symbols are represented by the twelve aforementioned animals. Each sign is for one year and you are given the symbol based upon your birth year. The signs rotate according to a twelve year cycle.
2008 is the year of that devious and clever rat. One website that explains more about your sign is “Chinese Astrology”. It is full of informative data regarding the Chinese zodiac.
One aspect of it that people do take seriously is the compatible zodiac signs to their own sign. Sometimes, the sign compatibility factor plays a major role in personal relationships, because with such signs, there are different personality characteristics that are said to represent the person’s true self.
Whether or not this is true and should be believed is for you to decide. Sometimes the Chinese zodiac sign is accurate and people really base their worldly decisions on whatever the prediction is for that day, month or year.
One important note: if you are a fan of zodiac signs tattoos and want to get your Chinese zodiac sign tattooed on your body, then make sure that the symbol is accurate. Words in a foreign language often do not translate into the same meaning in other languages.
On the website mentioned, there are zodiac pictures that you will find to be quite unique. It would be terribly unfortunate for you to get a tattoo of your zodiac symbol and later realize that it has no relation to it.
Chinese zodiac symbols are rife with history and legend. Everyone interested in a Chinese zodiac sign should know about the Jade King and his tricky rat that outsmarted the cat. The cat would have been one of the twelve signs had it not been for the rat failing to give him his invitation.
That rat was crafty and so the pig got the cat’s spot. If you are interested in learning more about the mythology and the mechanics behind the signs and how they cycle through time, then you can always find more information on the internet.
A free gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowledge further about the chinese zodiac symbols. Your comment is much appreciated at our horoscopes blog.
November 9th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
One of the most popular young stars in Hollywood today is Miley Cyrus. As most people know she is the star of the wildly popular Disney Channel television series ‘Hannah Montana’, as well as the daughter of country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus. She burst on the scene in 2006 and her fame soared like a rocket along with the popularity of her TV show. Though she comes from a showbiz family of sorts, the amount of fame and popularity she has achieved in just her first couple of years in the public eye is astounding.
Her Name
Many people wonder where she got the name Miley from and some are surprised to find out that it wasn’t her birth name. She has legally changed her name to Miley Ray Cyrus now, but she was born Destiny Hope Cyrus. Her parents called her Miley as a nickname because she was such a “smiley” baby.
Her Career
She has stated that she had wished to be an actress from the time she was about nine years old. She got her start in acting when she appeared in her Dad’s television show “Doc”, sometime later she made her film debut in the movie “Big Fish”. She auditioned for the role of Hannah Montana and also the role of her best friend and at first was turned down because she was so young. She eventually won the role with her personality and her stage presence. On the show she also sings many songs, some of which she has written herself. She went on to put out a couple of albums based mainly on her television persona, but has gone on to release material under her own name now. Her initial concert tour and movie made about the concert tour were huge hits as well.
Her Personal Life
She has an incredibly close relationship with her family and for that reason as well as her young age is with them a great deal. She has made many friends with co-stars of her show, stars of other Disney Channel shows, and also people associated with her live performances. Like any young star in Hollywood, she has had to deal with her share of scandals too, but none so bad that they have wrecked her squeaky clean image as Disney’s teen star of the moment.
With her incredible personality and huge popularity, there is nothing that can keep her from achieving all the career accomplishments she wishes for herself. She has shown the talent and drive that is guaranteed to serve her well long after she finishes her run as a teen pop culture icon.
Mark Allen writes about a number of subjects, some of which are even interesting. You can find out interesting stuff that you don’t know about a number of subjects by visiting 7Things! Including 7 things you don’t know about: Miley Cyrus
November 6th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
For most women, bags may seem to be a part of their everyday lives. It sounds very practical though. This accessory have great significance because of its versatility features. For those people who are always on the go, they might think of buying this useful item every year. Both men and women need bags, however, it is just well known that women use them more than men. For most men, they aren’t a big deal. This is somewhat a common argument between a “she” and “he” when they talk about accessories. .
Fashion totes are very popular today. Every year, different styles and designs are born. Popular fashion designers make different fashion lines with this item. Hottest personalities and Hollywood stars are the first to try trendy totes to complete their look.
This item is basically made for stylish working women that need more spacious storage for their necessities. And to make it widely available to everyone, such fashion tote bags are now available in a different variety of styles, designs, color and shape to incorporate with different outfits. This would be a great companion that fit in everything you need for long hours of work everyday.
They fit in everything you need for a long working day. These tote accessories are popular because they provide comfort and convenience without compromising their style factor. This is one great reason why fashionable ladies get lucrative with this trendy accessory.
There are lots of tote bags available at local stores and online stores. If you search for an ideal bag for a certain purpose, you will find out that your sources are endless. Different materials are used when making these items such as leather and canvas. Buying a leather tote makes an impression of success to most high profiled ladies. Leather makes a unique and sophisticated look and with high durability. And besides, a thorough maintenance of material like this can give a new look for each bag. A right choice for women, that want to retain their lady-look that matches their corporate attire, are bold and sassy leather tote bags.
For a cooler and funkier look, canvas totes are the best choice as compared to the leather. They can be seen in a wide variety of colors, styles and designs because of the flexibility of its material used. Teens are commonly seen carrying canvas totes because they perfectly suit their funky and colorful lifestyle. It can be used also by mommies during a casual outing where they need to carry plenty of stuff. So basically, this type of bag is usable by different ages.
Personalized items such as embroidered totes and monogrammed tote bags can make a great gift item ideas for ladies. You may hand it as a special present during birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduation gifts and other celebrations. This is made special because you’ll be able to embroider and monogram the initials of your receiver, that of course can put a smile on her face. This can be bought at your local stores and online stores. Most online stores offer cheaper rates, and lucky enough if they don’t charge extra fee for embroidery or monogramming.
Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. For more information on monogrammed totes, visit the website Bags-purses-totes.com. Browse their collection and get a tote personalized by your very own initials at an affordable price.
October 25th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
Is the face of musical theater changing? Do professional musical theater actors need to be singers, dancers, actors,..and musicians? Is a theater revolution at hand? Judging by what has occurred within the last few years on Broadway and in London, the answer appears to be more and more, a yes.
Attention began to be paid to this concept of actor- musicians here in America, in 2006, with the Broadway revival of Steven Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd” at the Eugene O’Neill Theater. For Broadway, the staging of this well-known musical in such a way, was a new one. John Doyle, the acclaimed British director, came to New York to illustrate his conception of “Sweeney Todd”, with the orchestral score performed by the actors.
Doyle will be the first to admit that actors playing the musical score has been done before and that his employment of this technique is not an original thought. “It’s not a gimmick or a concept – it’s an alternative approach.”, he declared, in a recent interview. He explains that not every piece of work can be adapted this way and, it was during the 1980’s and 1990’s, when theaters were desperate for cash that actor as musicians became a necessity of invention. Doyle had been a regional theater director for years and realized that if he wanted to do a big musical, he needed to do a show without the expense of a large orchestra. This was the impetus for using actors that could sing, dance, act, and play instruments, too. The Watermill Theatre in Newbury, England was where Doyle perfected his interpretation of this concept. The Watermill is spatially challenged and faced economic challenges, at the time. Doyle’s “approach” to “Sweeney Todd” at that theater, was highly acclaimed and following its run there, moved first to London’s West End at Trafalgar Studios and then the New Ambassadors Theatre. From London it went to Broadway.
Thus, began what many consider to be the salvation of Broadway…a cost effective means to produce musicals. Additionally, it may have been the beginning of the need for more actors who are trained as “quadruple” threats, those who can sing, dance, act, and play a musical instrument. Certainly, those who have acquired all four skills will be at an advantage in gaining employment, should this style of theater continue to grow.
How many Broadway and West End shows have been produced since the inception of “Sweeney Todd” with the actor-musician at the Watermill? You may be surprised to find out. Following Doyle winning a Broadway Tony Award for Best Director of a Revival for “Sweeney Todd”, he went on to direct a Broadway revival of “Company”. It received the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival before closing in July, 2007. Doyle just recently returned to the Watermill Theatre, in Newbury, to direct another Sondheim classic, “Merrily We Roll Along”. The Watermill, has also recently presented an actor-musician version of “Honk”. “Mack and Mabel” a Jerry Herman Musical, was revived in England in 2005 and toured before playing at the West End’s Criterion Theatre from April to July 2006.
Regional Theater and National Tour productions have also been effected by this new trend. Currently, in the United States there is a national tour of “Sweeney Todd” which is based on John Doyle’s Broadway revival conception. Watch, also, for those lesser known shows that were originally conceived with actor-musicians in mind. These include “Buddy” – The Buddy Holly Story and “Pump Boys and Dinettes”.
Both of these shows are experiencing a surge in production across the United States.
So what’s an actor or actress to do in light of these new theatrical developments, which will most likely continue in these unsure economic times for theater? My advice is to take that old guitar out of the closet and give yourself a brush up, or just start with your favorite instrument and go from there. It may be the difference between your landing a job or not.
Beverly Stone has volunteered with a performing arts kids group for the past ten years. During this time she has worked in various capacities on the production of many shows but her main job has been to facilitate the training of the group’s members. Many of these kids have gone on to become professionals, several of them are currently on Broadway. She recently decided to bring her knowledge online and created a Website and Blog which serves as a guide for kids and teens interested in singing, dancing and acting. She is dedicated to young people who are interested in training to work in professional theater. You can find additional information at http://www.musical-theater-kids.com
October 25th, 2008 -- Posted in Story |
BOTTOM LINE: Purporting to be a dark comedic thriller, “In Bruges” never quite balances these elements effectively for a worthwhile viewing experience, although the strong performances from the lead actors just about make up for it.
THE GOOD: “In Bruges” is the story of two Irish hit men, Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) who are told to lay low in Bruges in Belgium for two weeks by their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes). Ken is happy to be a tourist, especially with his interest in history and culture, but Ray is annoyed, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. These early scenes between Ray and Ken are the funniest in the film as the two sarcastically debate the merits of Bruges. Colin Farrell is excellent as Ray, delivering a fidgety, sarcastic and naughty boy performance with Ray. Brendan Gleeson is great playing the straight guy in Ken but delivers his character with a razor-sharp wit. The two men are waiting for the phone call from Harry which does not come. In the mean time, Ken goes sight-seeing while Ray stumbles across a movie set where he hooks up with a blonde actress and commences one of many comedic encounters with an American Dwarf. With Ray occupied and now having fun, Ken receives the call from Harry who tells Ken to kill Ray for a botched hit on a priest where he also killed a little boy. Ralph Fiennes is perhaps the best part of this film; his dialogue and delivery are fantastic and will have you laughing whenever he’s on.
The film proceeds on an interesting series of twists and turns as the three men try to resolve their issues with each other but ultimately end up in a tragic place. The strongest aspect of “In Bruges” is the casting; watching these three actors on screen is worth the price of admission as they each take turns in commanding the screen. The twisting story-line is also worthy of note as you are never really sure how it will end, who will live and who will die, with the story becoming more engaging as time passes. There is also some nice use of locations and photography; this film does not appear to have had a huge budget but it certainly looks more expensive than what it probably was thanks to some great crowd scenes and location coverage.
THE BAD: The main problem with “In Bruges” is that it never really satisfies either the dark comedy or thriller aspects effectively. The film starts off in a funny place as Ray and Ken squabble over being in Bruges, but then it changes dramatically when Ken is ordered by Harry to kill Ray. Suddenly there are serious issues in play, another of which is Ray’s feelings of guilt over killing the little boy by accident when he was doing the hit on the priest (a motivation which doesn’t mesh very well with his more selfish wit). Ray spends a few scenes feeling very upset and guilty over this tragic occurrence, to the point of almost committing suicide, but then magically goes back to being sarcastic and funny whenever this topic is not covered.
Things pick up a little bit when Ralph Fiennes appears after the half-way point, but the problem still exists, particularly towards the end when Harry commits suicide after shooting the dwarf by accident while he’s shooting Ray in a scene which mimicked Ray’s botched hit. With Ken also having been killed a little earlier in a tragic but noble act of self-sacrifice, the film ends in a dark place but Ray ends up doing a voice-over in which he effectively talks about how Bruges is hell and covers some of the same comedic ground that started the film; the effect of this is to negate the dramatic climax by trivialising the whole event. As a result of all of these inconsistencies in execution, you’re never quite sure whether to feel moved dramatically, or amused.
For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewinbruges.htm
Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, All About Movies.net – for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. He also contributes reviews and articles for the Digicosm Film Blog: http://www.filmannex.com/Digicosm
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