Review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) by Tor M — 24 May 2018

Martin McDonagh delivers a big Oscar contender this year. He is not the most prolific director but he has done some huge hits. While I found "Seven Psychopaths" a bit of a let down, "In Bruges" is great as I recall it and now he is back on the track.

Some tough lady, buys three billboards to put up some words. Words pointing a angry finger directed towards the cops investigating her daughters death. Well, the police don't like it, most part of town does but there sure is raising some smoke from a nearly dead fire. We get to know some great figures. Woody Harrelson is the dying cop, Caleb Landry Jones is the sneaky billboard man, Sam Rockwell is the pretty worthless cop and Frances McDormand is the iron lady. Clarke Peters from "The Wire" is another great feature among smaller parts - the casting is magnificent.

There are a lot of humor hidden in this dark story. It's vivid still sad, believeable yet spectacular. The script is rock solid but for me Rockwell and Landry Jones are making such efforts that they both may get away with an Oscar. Cool, since they both have been off the radar for a while.

I like the colors a whole lot and the pace got few problems. There are 20 minutes or so in the middle of it that makes it a bit draggy, though. That is one of few downers here.

Well direction, great acting and wonderful looks makes this chrime, drama, thriller - spiced up with loads of black humor makes this a winner for me.

8.5 out of 10 dental drills.