With all the big-budget, commercial films that are abuzz during this time of year, it's refreshing to see a dark, quirky, independent film replete with neuroses and dysfunction in the form of "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri". Not only is it independent, but is based on nothing more than the screenwriter's imagination which in my opinion, is a definite plus considering all the films based on a true story or novel or is a reboot or the like.
This is a darkly comic drama about a woman and mother striving to find her daughter's murderer's whereabouts while fighting her small town in the process because of how events had transpired since her death.
After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) makes a bold move: having three billboard signs put up by an advertising agency head up by Red Welby (Caleb Landry Jones) leading into her town of Ebbing, Missouri with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature momma's boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing's law enforcement is only exacerbated.
Others to round out the cast are Abbie Cornish as Anne, Willoughby's wife, Lucas Hedges as Robbie, Mildred's son, John Hawkes as Charlie, Peter Dinklage as James, Zeljo Ivanek as Desk Sergeant, Samara Weaving as Penelope, Sandy Martin as Momma Dixon and Kerry Condon as Pamela.
This was written and directed with subtlety and a quiet intensity by Martin McDonagh ("In Bruges" '08, "Seven Psychopaths" '12). His ability to extract the subtle nuances of character whatever the emotion is, is remarkable. Such as the emotions that Rockwell displayed ran the gambit which conveyed reality which is talented directing. His writing is quirky and dark laced with dysfunction and violence. If I were to akin his style of writing, it would probably be that of the Coen Brothers. The characters are over-the-top, dysfunctional, neurotic with a powder dry wit. Sound familiar? I'm not saying he's a copycat--I feel this is a homage to the Coen Brothers, and who better to admire than one's that are true artists. Certainly this writer definitely has his own style, but in some ways the crossover is assuredly there. Other than a couple of places of small slowness in storyline, this film, however dysfunctional, was cohesive and well thought out.
The cast was a eclectic as the film itself: McDormand, although was perfection in her role as the truly hurt and angry mother, is certainly something we haven't seen her in before and Harrelson as the chief where we usually see him in over-the-top roles, gave a straight on role as this worried but fairly normal individual. The one who shined here was Rockwell as the second-in-command to Willoughby. His neuroses ran the gambit from anger to depressed to abusive to humbleness and back again. Surely as the deadline for films up for consideration for Oscars comes close, it wouldn't surprise me if Rockwell doesn't nab an Oscar nod as supporting actor.
If you like quirky, dark independent films, this is the quintessential indie film that will please. However, if you're not into quirky and different, the performances will more than compensate for an odd script. The characters are richly written and are parlayed with finesse by an amazing cast.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 117mins.
No comments:
Post a Comment