It’s May and thankfully that means the beginning of the Summer movie season. Perhaps no span of weeks and months is as dry at the cinema as those months between Oscar season and early May. And between such limited appeal at the box office and the current economic climate, it’s not a bad time to look for DVDs to rent (and buy) instead of going out for a weekly flick. But what to rent? I’m glad you asked.

During this same span of months last year, I saw a trailer for the movie In Bruges once or twice. However, even though I do a fairly decent job of keeping up with most theatrical releases, this film came and went without any notice from me or many other people. Despite the fact that it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by Focus Features, In Bruges grossed less than $8 million at the box office. Don’t let that discourage you.

I was reminded of the film when watching the Golden Globes a few months ago where I was surprised to see it nominated for Best Picture (in a Comedy or Musical) and for Colin Farrell to win Best Actor (in a Comedy or Musical). Brendan Gleesan, whom I will always remember most for his role as William Wallace’s burly companion Hamish in Braveheart, was also nominated for his performance in In Bruges. Writer/Director Martin McDonagh subsequently received an Oscar nomination for penning the screenplay. I recently watched this film and I must say the film’s box office take and trailer do not do it justice.

For starters, the trailer and the Golden Globe categories clearly present this film as a comedy. And the witty, bantering dialogue laced throughout the film is often hilarious. But there are also moments of really unexpected brutality and depth. Being a British crime movie, it definitely brings to mind Snatch (possibly my favorite “comedy” of all time). And while I genuinely love Guy Ritchie’s over-the-top editing approach, I can’t help but think the more traditional handling of In Bruges gives it a darker and more meaningful weight.

Gleesan and Farrell play two hitmen who are ordered by their boss to lay low in Bruges for a few weeks after a job goes bad. While there, the two share encounters with both the sights and people of the well-preserved medieval Flemish city while waiting for their next set of instructions. When Harry does finally call, his instructions put their “vacation” in a totally different perspective. I almost always like Brendan Gleesan, but I am typically less enthusiastic about Collin Farrell. I was quite pleasantly surprised with his performance and actually think he was the perfect casting choice. He brought the right blend of humor, machismo, and sadness to the role. Although he doesn’t show up until nearly halfway into the film, Ralph Fiennes is terrific as always.

Again, this movie is a dark British “comedy” and, much like Snatch, is full of all sorts of colorful but hilarious dialogue. It also features more than one pretty brutal murder scene. I’m not talking Hostel here and the shots are neither gory nor lengthy, but there are a handful of frames in this film that might make you cringe. Just a heads up.

As a frequent movie-goer, I often feel the over-anticipation of films of all genres and budgets, only to be left somewhat satisfied a good deal of the time. It is definitely a rare and enjoyable experience to know very little about a movie and be rewarded by seeing an entertaining, original film. I’ll be watching In Bruges again soon, and I recommend you do the same.