You never know
quite what to expect in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”
It's a movie as eccentric as its title suggests but it's also an expertly written and acted searing drama about loss, vengeance,
and a microcosm of the current state of affairs in this country. Oh and
it's also wickedly funny. Sort of in the vein of “Fargo,”
writer/director Martin McDonagh takes the tragic story of a mother's
loss and turns it on its head in a way you rarely encounter in
mainstream movies. Frances McDormand leads a fantastic cast as a
woman hell bent on starting a war of words with the local cops who have
yet to find her daughter's killer. In lesser hands it sounds like a
movie-of-the-week tearjerker, but here it's a fiery indignation about
the role of authority, the nature of violent crime, and the
questionable morals of its central characters. Did I mention it was
really funny? Oh right I did. This is a one of a kind movie-going
experience and a fresh alternative to all that Marvel vs DC crap
that's been going around.
“Three Billboards”
revolves around a terrible, violent crime. The rape and murder of a
teenage girl. But it takes place nearly a year after this horrific
events (which we never see). Instead, the film doesn't focus on the
victim but rather the questionable behavior of her grieving, pissed
off mother Mildred (McDormand) who challenges the cops to solve her
daughter's murder by purchasing three billboards just outside of town
displaying a controversial message to the town's sheriff. The town is practically turned upside down as Mildred practically begins a war
between her and the town's police force. There's the sympathetic
Sheriff Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) who happens to be dying of
cancer. And then there's bad-tempered Officer Jason Dixon (a
perfectly cast Sam Rockwell) who trades nasty barbs with Mildred and
anyone else who stands in his way. The billboards are a catalyst for
what sets off violent confrontations. But it's also funny I swear.
The film comes from
the mind of Martin McDonagh who showed off his flair for mixing
crime, comedy, and drama in his critical hit “In Bruges.” He
slowly peels away the layer in this story of horrible violence in
small town America. He paints broader strokes that deal with racism,
homophobia and the clash between cops and civilians that have made
headlines around the country. But there's also quick wit here with
his fascinating characters who are always making questionable
decisions whether it's the “heroes” and “villains.” It's a
fine line of course. All of this is wrapped up in a mystery that is
really second fiddle to the tension unfolding among the characters.
The acting here is
top notch. McDormand was born to play the role which feels like a fun
echo of her good-natured Fargo character Marge Gunderson. Rockwell
playing a difficult character to like is fascinating here. Harrelson
plays off his southern charm in a way that completely fits. He's
really the soul of the film (along with Carter Burwell's uneasy
score). Caleb Landry Jones, who played such a creepy, nasty character
earlier this year in “Get Out” is in opposite form here but no
less charming. And there are minor but solid turns from Oscar
nominees Lucas Hedges and John Hawkes. Oh and Peter Dinklage is there
as well.
“Three Billboards
Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is a fantastically original film. It has
an amazing sense of time and place. There's nothing too flashy about
it, but it features one of the most electric scripts of the year. It's witty
and unpredictable and will stay with you long after it's over. GRADE: A
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