Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
2017
by Paulette Reynolds
February 5, 2018
Directed by Martin McDonagh
Written by Martin McDonagh
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Starring Frances McDormand/Mildred, Sam Rockwell/Dixon, Woody Harrelson/Willoughby, Abbie Cornish/Anne,
Lucas Hedges/Robbie, Peter Dinklage/James
2017
by Paulette Reynolds
February 5, 2018
Directed by Martin McDonagh
Written by Martin McDonagh
Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures
Starring Frances McDormand/Mildred, Sam Rockwell/Dixon, Woody Harrelson/Willoughby, Abbie Cornish/Anne,
Lucas Hedges/Robbie, Peter Dinklage/James
By now everyone knows the plot to Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri: Mildred, mourning the death of her daughter, Angela, is still stuck in stage two of grieving. She rents three ratty-looking billboards that are in a serious stage of deterioration, in the hopes of forcing the local police Chief Willoughby and his stuck-on-autopilot officer Dixon, to renew the languishing investigation. This act causes a mixed bag of reactions by the town, from support to outrage, in ways that Mildred couldn't imagine.
Set in the small, insular, working class town of Ebbing, Missouri, Three Billboards is a film about Dixon, Woody and Mildred, who - much like the three crumbling billboards - are stuck in their own destructive cycles of decay.
Set in the small, insular, working class town of Ebbing, Missouri, Three Billboards is a film about Dixon, Woody and Mildred, who - much like the three crumbling billboards - are stuck in their own destructive cycles of decay.
Frances McDormand essentially plays Frances McDormand, which is reminiscent of her role as Olive Kitteridge in the HBO miniseries of the same name - a tough, bitter loner with zero tolerance for stupid people. She carries a burden of guilt over Angela's rape and murder that prevents her from feeling anything other than a restless rage.
Sam Rockwell portrays Dixon, a sloppy racist cop who approaches his job like a benched football jock, creating minor acts of aggression to lessen his boredom. Woody Harrelson's Willoughby provides the moral compass for Ebbing, delivering deep thoughts while trying to come to terms with his failing health from cancer. Mildred's campaign for justice lights a fire within each of them that has transformative results by the film's end.
Three Billboards has been picking up steam - and awards - since the season began, for both McDormand and Rockwell, and there seems to be no let-up in sight. Sam Rockwell, who's career as a quirky character actor (The Green Mile * 1999, Galaxy Quest * 1999, Mr. Right * 2015) spans over 29 years, is my personal favorite to take home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. And Woody Harrelson keeps delivering his own particular brand of easy going, good ole boy characterizations that seem almost effortless.
The film hits a few false notes along the way with some gratuitous swearing, the intrusion of a mysteriously hostile stranger at 'just' the right time, and an even greater mystery as to how a southern cop ends up with a British wife quoting Oscar Wilde. But the onscreen chemistry between the three major stars keeps our attention focused on what really matters.
Sam Rockwell portrays Dixon, a sloppy racist cop who approaches his job like a benched football jock, creating minor acts of aggression to lessen his boredom. Woody Harrelson's Willoughby provides the moral compass for Ebbing, delivering deep thoughts while trying to come to terms with his failing health from cancer. Mildred's campaign for justice lights a fire within each of them that has transformative results by the film's end.
Three Billboards has been picking up steam - and awards - since the season began, for both McDormand and Rockwell, and there seems to be no let-up in sight. Sam Rockwell, who's career as a quirky character actor (The Green Mile * 1999, Galaxy Quest * 1999, Mr. Right * 2015) spans over 29 years, is my personal favorite to take home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. And Woody Harrelson keeps delivering his own particular brand of easy going, good ole boy characterizations that seem almost effortless.
The film hits a few false notes along the way with some gratuitous swearing, the intrusion of a mysteriously hostile stranger at 'just' the right time, and an even greater mystery as to how a southern cop ends up with a British wife quoting Oscar Wilde. But the onscreen chemistry between the three major stars keeps our attention focused on what really matters.
COPYRIGHT 2012/2019. Paulette Reynolds. All CineMata Movie Madness blog articles, reviews, faux interviews, commentary, and the Cine Mata character are under the sole ownership of Paulette Reynolds. All intellectual and creative rights reserved.
