“If it was me, I’d start up a database, every male baby was born, stick ’em on it, and as soon as he done something wrong, cross reference it, make 100% certain it was a correct match, then kill him.”
Release Date: November 10th, 2017
Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy.
MPAA: 14A (Canada)/ R (USA)
I love when a new film by a director/writer you recently got into, comes out. I didn’t know much about Martin McDonagh until a couple years ago when I was recommended I see In Bruges (2008) and Seven Psychopaths (2012). Which are two movies I really enjoyed, they were cleverly written and had some great comedic moments. When I saw the trailer for Three Billboards… I knew that I had to see it, it looked like it could be McDonagh’s best film yet.
Before I get into this review, if you’re easily offended, do not see this movie. Theres some instances where I knew if I watched it with certain people they would gasp or walk away. If you’re not easily offended, sit down and enjoy!
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a Crime, Drama and Comedy film about a mother who personally challenges the local police department to solve her daughter’s murder after the authorities fail to catch the culprit.
Three Billboards it directed and written by Martin McDonagh. His filmography consists of In Bruges (2008) and Seven Psychopaths (2012). I love that McDonagh doesn’t not make a film every year, theres about 4 years in between each one of his films. I guess that makes sense when he writes all his own movies as well as directs them. I also love how he uses the same actors in each one of his films as well. It adds a certain flavour to the movie when you already have seen one of their other collaborations together, because it just works. I thought this was very well directed, I thought that McDonagh chose the perfect leading woman to play the main role, but the supporting cast was outstanding as well. I also thought that this film was extremely well written, McDonagh’s way of writing an extremely dramatic scene where theres a lot going on, and a lot of character development and a high intensity situation, can be overshadowed in the next seen by one extremely witty piece of dialogue, where you laugh and the tension from the last scene is released. This is another notch in McDonagh’s belt, and I cannot wait to see what he does next.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri stars Frances McDormand as Mildred, Woody Harrelson as Willoughby, Sam Rockwell as Dixon, Caleb Landry Jones as Red Welby, and Lucas Hedges as Robbie
Frances McDormand’s filmography consists of Darkman (1990), Fargo (1996), Primal Fear (1996), Madeline (1998), Almost Famous (2000), Something’s Gotta Give (2003), Burn After Reading (2008), Transformers: Dark Of The Moon (2011), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), and Hail, Caesar! (2016). I love Frances McDormand in anything she does, and I think this was a perfect role for her. She really hit it big for me when she was in all these Coen Brothers movies, and its interesting to note that she is actually married to Joel Coen…so no wonder its so easy for her to do these roles; she fits into them like a glove. I could see her being nominated for an Academy Award for her role. She was excellent.
Woody Harrelson’s Filmography consists of Natural Born Killers (1994), A Scanner Darkly (2006), No Country For Old Men (2007), Seven Pounds (2008), Zombieland (2009), Friends With Benefits (2011), Seven Psychopaths (2012), Now You See Me (2013), Out Of The Furnace (2013), True Detective {TV Series} (Season One), Triple 9 (2016), The Edge Of Seventeen (2016) and War For The Planet Of The Apes (2017). Woody Harrelson is quickly becoming one of the my favourite actors working today, he can do absolutely anything. I thought he was the perfect fit for Chief Willoughby, he was great.
Sam Rockwell’s Filmography consists of Galaxy Quest (1999), The Green Mile (1999), Charlie’s Angels (2000), The Assassination Of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007), Moon (2009), Conviction (2010), Cowboys & Aliens (2011), Seven Psychopaths (2012), The Way Way Back (2013), Mr. Right (2015), and Dishonored 2 {Video Game} (2016). Sam Rockwell is probably the most underrated actor working today, every role that he is in, he takes over the screen, no matter who he is acting with. He was my favourite part of Seven Psychopaths (2012) – Also directed by McDonagh, and he was excellent in this movie as well. I hope he collaborates more with Martin McDonagh in the future.
Caleb Landry Jones’ Filmography consists of The Last Exorcism (2010), X-Men: First Class (2011), Get Out (2017). I didn’t realize I’ve seen any of this guys movies other than Get Out (2017). It would be interesting to go back and watch these other movies and see if I can pick him out. He stuck out so much from Get Out for being just genuinely creepy, that he was easy to pick up on. I thought Jones was great in this role, he had great chemistry with everyone.
Lucas Hedges Filmography consists of Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Manchester By The Sea (2016). I also didn’t realize that I knew any of Hedges movies either besides Manchester by the Sea (2016), I thought he was a new comer. I thought he did a good job in this movie, especially considering that he didn’t talk much.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’s acting was exquisite, but thats because the writing and directing were really excellent too. It all just complemented each other.
My only gripe against the movie, was there was a weird pacing issue I noticed in the third act, but thats a very small flaw in a very enjoyable movie.
This movie made me laugh until I cried and my stomach starting to become sore, but it was also able to put a lump in my throat in some scenes. It takes a very skilled cast and a skilled writer and director to inflict such different ends of emotion spectrum.
I give Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri a 5/5.
Until Next Time!
Andrew