Monday 15 January 2018

Film: 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri'

If this doesn't end up high on my list of 'Best Films of 2018' I'll eat my hat - with my socks as dessert! Fully deserving of all the praise it's already garnered, it left me in a state of wondered reassurance that cinema can still be so thought-provoking and solidly entertaining. 
A very smart script from director Martin McDonagh ('In Bruges' plus the rather less memorable 'Seven Psychopaths'), and a storyline replete with witty dialogue and unexpected turns (at least one of which is quite a shock), and performances which shine from all three main actors - Frances McDormand (especially), Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell - what more can one ask?  

McDormand is a world-weary mother, single-handedly bringing up her upstart teenage son after her husband has got himself shacked up with a teenage girl. What dominates her life now is that her stroppy,  late-teenage daughter had been raped and murdered a few months before, and she's become disillusioned and impatient that the local police chief (Woody Harrelson) has not only got nowhere in tracing the criminal(s) but, to her, doesn't seem too bothered about the case, his behaviour and apparent nonchalant attitude mirrored by his obnoxious, lazy deputy (Sam Rockwell). 
She decides to stir things up in a forward direction by renting three large, roadside billboards on the approach to the small town, to feature large-lettered messages to the police chief asking why nothing's been done.

There are a number of very violent, though mostly shortish, scenes, some of it graphic. 
The film is, by turns, tragic, horrific and bleakly comic, the latter not feeling out of place, especially when McDormand has to deliver some of her well-timed, acidic lines. In fact it is she who carries the whole enterprise on her shoulders and if she achieves the Oscar for this performance I, for one, will not be complaining. 
It's yet another of those films which do not tie the ends up neatly at the end, so if you're one of those who prefer cut-and-dried endings, be prepared - though it should in no way prevent you from enjoying all that's gone before as it's all so very good.
Btw: I did notice one or two careless lapses in continuity, though I doubt if most people will spot them. Doesn't matter too much.

A darned good film, then, with a high standard on just about every conceivable front. I take enormous pleasure in recommending it strongly................8.






20 comments:

  1. Nice to read your review as usual. I was curious and figured you may enjoy this film. I too agree, if McDormand doesn't win, Id be shocked. I thought the movie was excellent and one of the only contenders I have seen so far. Later this week, I'm off to see the Shape of Water at our little cinema here.

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    1. If anyone were to describe this as a 'poor' film, M.M., I can only assume that they must have another agenda, such as antipathy to one of its stars. It shouts out "high standard!" and is just what good cinema should be all about.

      We've got to wait another month before 'Shape of Water' arrives here, though the trailer was being shown for the first time today. I will be seeing it, if only for the wonderful Sally Hawkins, though it looks like the story could be ultra-heavy on the sentiment side. But still, it's getting very good reviews. Hope you think they're deserved.

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  2. So glad you reviewed this film for I'm going to see it at the weekend and JG put me off it slightly!!I really rate FMcD as an actress of high calibre. I haven't seen her in anything rubbish yet and who could forget her performance in 'Fargo'?Thanks RB.

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    1. Hadn't realised (or I've forgotten) that J.G. had seen this, R.B. Must check it out. I've no reason at all to give you second thoughts about going, so please do. I'll be very surprised indeed if you're less than captivated by it.
      And yes, 'Fargo' was, and still is, more than 20 years later, a masterpiece. It was the first film in which I became aware of McDormand and she has never even once disappointed since.

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  3. Yes I was excited that you saw and liked this Raymondo. I adore Mc Dormand......ADORE Her

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    1. Me too, JayGee - and here she's at her absolute best. The part was written for her in mind, and no one else could have been anything like as good.

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  4. I can't wait to see it. I have it on my agenda for a cheerful end to a my week. I have been looking forward to it and am glad you liked it.

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    1. I doubt if you'll get much 'cheer' from it, Rachel, though there are some laughs. As you are clearly a person of 'taste' and discernment I'm certain that you'll appreciate it.

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  5. I did see this film and I have to say that I was a bit disappointed. I didn't like Frances McDormand's character at all. It was virtually the exact same character as she played in Olive Kitteridge, but even more mean (though I did love Olive Kitteridge). I may have just been in a bad mood as, I had to go to the bathroom badly during the last half of the film and didn't want to miss anything, so I suffered.

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    1. Maybe your expectations were too high, M? On the other hand, I can well understand how needing a wee can be so frustrating and distracting when you're waiting for an opportune moment to nip out, which refuses to arrive - though it also says a lot that you didn't want to miss anything, so you must have wanted not to break the continuity.

      I didn't know anything about an 'Olive Kitteridge' character so had nothing to compare McDormand's performance in this film with. Maybe that was an advantage - sounds like it.

      But at least it sounds like you didn't 'DISlike '3 Billboards'.

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  6. We saw this one a couple of months ago and just loved it.
    I love the way so much, comedy, drama, violence, are used to make each and every point and done so well.
    Of course, McDormand is a standout, but Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson are also great. Even though it's only been weeks, I could see this again and again.
    GLad you loved it as much as we did,

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    1. Yes, the mix of disparate emotions, ranging from funny to tragic, was very skilfully achieved, Bob, without one devaluing the other.

      Rockwell and Harrelson, if it wasn't for McDormand's presence, would be two stand-outs too - though I confess as to being ever so slightly let-down by the way Rockwell's character was turned round late in the film in a kind of predictable way. But I couldn't make too much of that minor point.

      All in all, a great film and well deserving of a second viewing - and more.

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  7. Wow. I knew nothing about this. Will have to await its arrival.

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    1. Don't pencil it in your diary, Mitch - INK it in! (If you can find out when it's coming, that is.) I doubt if you'll feel let down.

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  8. It was my top for 2017. Granted I didn't see a ton, but it still ranked at #1

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    1. It'll be staggering if this doesn't end up right there with the very best, no matter how many more I see this year, B. Pleased that you and I are at one on this.

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  9. Just lost my comment.....what was the lapses?

    Darn , my reply here was long!

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    1. The 'careless lapses' I refer to, JayGee, are when a shot is shown of a particular person maybe singly or in dialogue, or with something going on in the background, and when that same person is shown from a different angle by a different camera that person's pose has changed, or the background, from what it was a split-second previously. I'll be the first to admit that I think most people wouldn't notice or even care, but when one sees a great quantity of films one is more inclined to pick up on such things and they can be maddeningly distracting.

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    2. The pleasure is all mine, JayGee (but that's another story!)

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