Review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) by Gary N — 10 Feb 2018

Unpleasant and pointless, despite terrific performances. It's misleading to call this a dark comedy. That would imply an intelligent use of humor, and some point of view. There really isn't one here, at least that I could tell.

And it really isn't all that much humor - don't be fooled by the ads. I watched through a series of relentless sadness, unpleasant characters and indefensible actions on all (well, most all) ends, waiting for something to take away from the film, something besides all the misery.

But plot points came and went without ramification or meaning (e.g., someone starts a serious fire late in the film, everyone knows who did it, but even the culprit's enemies don't press an investigation - why is that?).

And the dialogue is frequently embarrassing, depending on a slew of expletives to show down-to-earthness and anger and ignorance and love. I'm not kidding, be prepared for a parent to cuss at his little children to show affection.

There are great performances here, but Ms.McDormand can't compensate for the fact that she plays a relentlessly unpleasant character that stubbornly refuses to develop.