Maybe
Ben Is Back **1/2
A strong first half gives way to a cliché-ridden conclusion, but Julia Roberts is in top form...
Great story, writing and acting make this one of the year’s best.
Is it worth $10? Yes
In many ways “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” defies description, and that’s a good thing. Part dark comedy, part drama, it challenges expectations and convention and is richly better because of it. It’s Oscar season, and if you’re looking for a title likely to be on people’s lips over the next few months, look no further.
Frances McDormand stars as Mildred, a bitter woman with little hope for improvement. She has a right to be angry: Her ex-husband Charlie (John Hawkes) used to beat her and now has a 19 year-old girlfriend (Samara Weaving). More importantly, Mildred’s daughter (Kathryn Newton) was burned, raped and murdered seven months ago and the assailant is still free. Frustrated, and no longer capable of holding in her searing emotional pain, Mildred has an idea: Utilize the three unused, dilapidated billboards in her town to send a stern message to Police Chief William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), whose made little progress on the murder investigation.
The supporting cast is excellent as well, including Harrelson, Hawkes, Peter Dinklage as Mildred’s sort of love interest and Sam Rockwell as a racist momma’s boy cop. They all perfectly understand the pitch and tone of McDonagh’s script, and are proficient at both the humorous and dramatic moments. It is unlikely you will see a finer ensemble this year, and Rockwell in particular stands out because his character has a larger arc than any other.
More than anything, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” has personality. McDonagh’s direction is notably accomplished for a man making only his third feature film: The pacing is steady and sure, the story twists are legit surprises, and the dark humor is laugh-out-loud funny without being morbid. This is one of the best movies of the year.
Did you know?
Ebbing is a fictional town; the film was shot on location in western North Carolina.