Martin Mc Donagh's "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" manages to encapsulate the American Zeitgeist of the Trump-era and entertains us with edgy wit and explosive physicality. Brilliant dialogue powerfully drives the action through surprisingly perspective-shifting twists and turns.
Mildred Hayes (Frances Mac Dormand) is heartbroken about the rape and murder of her teenage daughter Angela. It has been 7 months since Angela has been murdered and it looks like the police in the little town of Ebbing Missouri have given up their search for Angela’s murderer. As Mildred’s heartbreak, has turned to white-hot anger she implements a plan to get Sheriff Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), who is somewhat distracted with personal matters of life and death, to focus on finding Angela’s killer. It does not make her very popular with her small-town neighbours. Officer Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), who lives with his mother and is not god’s gift to subtle and intelligence police work is appalled by Mildred’s methods and is looking for non-too-subtle ways to make her stop.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is a powerful film from the pen (keyboard) of the brilliant British/Irish writer Martin McDonagh (In Bruges) who also directs. This film manages to encapsulate the American Zeitgeist of the Trump-era and entertains us with edgy wit and explosive physicality. Brilliant dialogue powerfully drives the action through surprisingly perspective-shifting twists and turns. The strong direction uses film-music that contrasts with the action and striking cinematography. Frances Mac Dormand and Woody Harrelson stand out and Sam Rockwell gives a brilliant performance. Three Billboards is the kind of film which will please fans of the Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino, but it is very originally Martin McDonagh.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is entertaining, dramatic, sad, funny, and thought provoking. The film amply deserves the many prizes, including the Oscars for which it has been nominated. Great contemporary cinema that has all the makings of a classic. Don’t miss it.
Mildred Hayes (Frances Mac Dormand) is heartbroken about the rape and murder of her teenage daughter Angela. It has been 7 months since Angela has been murdered and it looks like the police in the little town of Ebbing Missouri have given up their search for Angela’s murderer. As Mildred’s heartbreak, has turned to white-hot anger she implements a plan to get Sheriff Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), who is somewhat distracted with personal matters of life and death, to focus on finding Angela’s killer. It does not make her very popular with her small-town neighbours. Officer Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), who lives with his mother and is not god’s gift to subtle and intelligence police work is appalled by Mildred’s methods and is looking for non-too-subtle ways to make her stop.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is a powerful film from the pen (keyboard) of the brilliant British/Irish writer Martin McDonagh (In Bruges) who also directs. This film manages to encapsulate the American Zeitgeist of the Trump-era and entertains us with edgy wit and explosive physicality. Brilliant dialogue powerfully drives the action through surprisingly perspective-shifting twists and turns. The strong direction uses film-music that contrasts with the action and striking cinematography. Frances Mac Dormand and Woody Harrelson stand out and Sam Rockwell gives a brilliant performance. Three Billboards is the kind of film which will please fans of the Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino, but it is very originally Martin McDonagh.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is entertaining, dramatic, sad, funny, and thought provoking. The film amply deserves the many prizes, including the Oscars for which it has been nominated. Great contemporary cinema that has all the makings of a classic. Don’t miss it.
Martin McDonagh
