Review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) by Terry M — 19 Oct 2018

I just finished watching THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI.

I'm not sure how I feel....or rather at the moment I'm overwhelmed by McDonagh's gut punch of a film.

The movie puts you through the ringer and is so full of rage (and I mean rage with a huge Capitol R) mixed with beautiful moments of unexpected tenderness .

To me, The film seems to be a story about the importance of self forgiveness.

The open ended/somewhat ambiguous ending left me feeling emotionally..I guess...lost and terribly sad. (During the last scene I personally found myself whispering to the characters Mildred and Dixon, "Please come to your senses, make the correct choice!").

I doubt that anyone who views this film will be able to be indifferent about what they have just witnessed. There are a few plot points that are questionable.. but overall, very effective.

For very personal reasons, from the few Oscar Best Picture nominees that I've seen, I wish CALL ME BY YOUR NAME would pick up the statue for Best Picture, but it doesn't stand a chance.

Sam Rockwell is definitely going to win best supporting actor, he's a fantastic actor and it's a VERY showy role. (although I still think Michael Stuhlbarg should have been nominated and should have won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his amazingly beautiful/understated performance in CALL ME BY YOUR NAME).

I have no doubt Frances McDormand will win the Oscar for Best Actress and with her fierce uncompromising performance as Mildred Hayes, she probably deserves the award. The only thing is.. I still haven't seen THE SHAPE OF WATER and I always LOVE the work of Sally Hawkins.

If you haven't seen THREE BILLBOARDS.. do yourself a favor and go see it or rent it. However, if you are sensitive to strong violence and rough/foul mouthed language (McDonagh's dialogue makes playwright/screenwriter David Mamet's language seem tame) you may want to pass on THREE BILLBOARDS.

One final note: The scene with the deer still moves me immensely, no matter how many time's I've seen it (it's in the trailer for the film). It's a fantastic scene!