Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play two of the nicest, most literate hit men you'd ever want to meet in Irish playwright Martin McDonagh's In Bruges. Tightly scripted and intricately plotted, the buddy film manages the neat two-step of being simultaneously profane and engaging.

Think of it as Pulp Fiction with an Irish brogue and without the jumbled timeline. But In Bruges is more than simply another film looking to recapture the magic Quentin Tarantino unleashed on movie screens 14 years ago. With smart dialogue, winning performances and multidimensional characters, it's the sort of film demanding audiences crave - but with enough action to keep everyone happy.

In Bruges (Focus Features) Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes. Written and directed by Martin McDonagh. Rated R for intense violence, language and some drug use. Time 101 minutes.