Review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) by Rick D — 15 Feb 2018

Many people have labelled Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as one of the best films of the year. Upon seeing it, I can certainly verify that this is a very good film. Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh directs this ambitious flick, which succeeds as a balance of black comedy and harshly realistic drama. The story tells of divorced mother Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) who wages war with the police department with her town, instigated by three, inflammatory billboards questioning a lack of clarity in her daughter's murder case. The film does not sound fun and in many ways it isn't; at points, the film showcases scenes of raw emotion, interspersed with often surprisingly brutal violence. At other times, the film is a deliciously black comedy; the two tones successfully work together, not combating but complimenting eachother. The real achievement of this film is the performances by its veteran cast, led by Frances McDormand whose performance as tragic Mildred Hayes ranges from blunt hilarity to sheer passion and emotion. McDormand is simply fantastic, both determined and defeated; what this actress can convey only in a stare is astounding. Sam Rockwell, an Oscar favourite for his role, is very believable as thuggish cop, Dixon, despite a slightly unbelievable redemption that does come too easy. Woody Harrelson is also great, as are the rest of the cast, despite some, such as Lucas Hedges playing Mildred's bullied son, feeling underused. Three Billboards, though providing us with some incredible scenes and expert cinematography and design, is prone to subplots and tangents, such as Mildred's relationship with her ex-husband, which, while sometimes benefiting the main narrative, sometimes crowd the screen and hinder the film. Halfway through, the film enters a rather chaotic sequence which gives the film a disjointed feel that it fights hard to redeem.

Despite its mistakes, I find it impossible not to respect this film in its ambition, honesty and deft execution. This film is very funny, but its also very heart-breaking and real. The film is successful in its ambiguity of its characters; characters like Mildred and Dixon are pretty horrible in many things they do, but beneath their acts you can clearly see their motivations and how it is not out of malice that they do what they do, but out of the toxicity of rage and hurt, which McDonagh presents so thoughtfully.

Overall, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri may not be the best film of this year, but it remains a film that is humorous, delightfully brutal but also very beautiful in its own way, striking and remarkably thoughtful.