Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri –
what a title , what a film. I saw it. I don’t think I need to see it again.
It’s up for a lot of Oscar buzz and is very worthy. It’s a challenging film.
Can’t call it entertaining. It makes you think. It makes you sweat a bit. It
can make you laugh – but it’s that uncomfortable laugh – like, this is sorta PC
wrong, but it’s funny, but it’s wrong, and am I cleared to laugh?
So, Frances McDormand (beyond Oscar worthy, she is SO good
in this film – just hand her the statue now) is mourning her daughter who was
killed and died while being burned. Ugly. So horrific. And she’s pissed – the
local cops haven’t solved a thing. The chief (an excellent Woody Harrelson) has
tried, but there have been no clues. The local worker bee cop (Sam
Rockwell – very Oscar worthy) is a racist pig with a lot of issues and does not
seem interested in a solution. Meanwhile, she puts up three billboards
that challenge the police force.
Bam. It’s front and center. Many issues are faced in
this film. Racism. Police work. Murder. And more. Seems like the whole
town is seething, and McDormand is front and center. Her very being vibrates.
She is such a good actress and she can show fury, combustion, and more just
with a clenched jaw, a raised eyebrow, and a cutting remark.
This film can get ugly. The language is brutal. The actions
are ugly. These aren’t really pleasant people. But it’s truly an interesting
story, a sad heartbreaking at times story, and everyone in it grows in some way
or another.
It’s an Oscar must see film that is tough....that’s where
I’ll leave it. Wow and whoa and dang.
Quality people in the film. Heard a lot of good things about it and do want to see it. Sounds like one and done will be enough.
ReplyDeleteand that's often true of Oscar films. Makes you think
DeleteNot sure if I want to see this film or not. There's so much ugliness like this going on in the real world, I don't know if I want to watch it in the guise of entertainment. From your description, it does sound like a shoo-in for some Oscars, though.
ReplyDeleteyou can count my review as if you watched it. Trust me!
DeleteSounds like a gritty story. We'll see if your prediction that it's an Oscar contender comes true.
ReplyDeletethanks. My record is darn good!
DeleteHi Joanne - interesting and thanks for the warning ... I'll get to see when it gets here - but I'm glad for the info on what to expect.
ReplyDeleteThe dreadful highrise Grenfell Tower fire we had last summer in Nottinghill - where so far no one has been brought to justice and 71 died ... the people who need answers have used the concept here of three bill boards to drive round London with three simple statements:
71 dead and still no arrests how come?
Thanks for the review .. cheers Hilary
A billboard can be powerful. It's there, every time you drive by. and so sad for no answers or arrests....
DeleteSounds powerful and moving. This is the kind of movie I have to be in a certain mood in order to watch it. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteexactly. I knew what I was going in to see and it lived up to it. Yes, you have to be prepared
DeleteHeard it was great, will see it. But yeah, sure sounds like a one and done.
ReplyDeletesometimes you need serious. Makes one think a bit. and then on to more crap!!!
DeleteWow it sounds intense. Way too intense for me; it's not good for my mental health at all.
ReplyDeleteno. you can just take my word for it
DeleteThanks for taking one for the team, Joanne. I'll look and listen for it at awards time. Whoosh. You deserve a nice, pleasant weekend after that. Please do have one.
ReplyDeletethanks. I enjoy the movies and some are challenging. I always have a fun weekend!
Delete"Wow, whoa and dang says it all. Hadn't heard of this. Now I will pay attention and perhaps give it a go? The billboard premise is very cool. Hope you are well, Joanne!
ReplyDeletethanks. I warned you....it's intense and language is a bit brutal
DeleteSounds powerful and thought provoking. Art imitating life or the other way round? As usual your review makes me want to rush off to the cinema right away...but I'm not sure about my ability to handle films where the MC is a parent mourning a dead child, yikes.
ReplyDelete