Review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) by Kevin P — 03 Mar 2018

Strengths: There is no better written movie from 2017 and that's high praise considering how great this year was for film. The dialogue is sharp and the characters are incredibly fleshed out. All three main characters have clear flaws and it makes them such a treat to watch. it helps that the performances are incredible. Frances McDormand (Mildred Hayes) is unbelievable. She's winning all the awards and I get it. It's not just the single best performance of the year, it's one the greatest I've ever seen. Woody Harrelson (Bill) brings a sympathy to his character. He's a cop, who are the group that Mildred is at odds with, but you feel for him and his condition. It's not a major scene, but the one of him and Mildred in the interrogation room is very moving. Sam Rockwell (Jason) does fantastic as the racist, alcoholic officer who seems irredeemable, but turns things around quite nicely, giving him a fully developed arc. The script does a masterful job of balancing the dark, heartbreaking stuff, with just enough comedy. There's a realness to everything that happens that adds so much to it all. Also, I want to commend the people with the smaller roles. Samara Weaving (Penelope) was hilarious, Peter Dinkalge (James) was his great self, and Abbie Cornish (Anne) showed a lot of emotion in her short screen time.

Weaknesses: If I had to pick an issue, it would be the ending. It's not a bad one, but it just kind of feels like it falls a bit flat. As you watch the movie, you're expecting it to lead to something big and instead, it kind of just ends.

Overall: Even with an ending that I wouldn't exactly consider perfect, it doesn't do enough harm to take away from just how incredible this movie is. It's gripping, emotional, and real. It's packed with so many stellar performances and you can't peel your eyes away from it all.