BlueThe fictional town of Ebbing, Missouri takes centerstage in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,“ Martin McDonagh’s gritty story of one mother’s quest for justice. The film has been decades in the making, when McDonagh was first inspired by accusatory billboards in 1998, asking about the murder of a woman named Kathy Page. His assumption that Kathy’s mother was the one who put up the billboards inspired him to write the film, combined with his desire to create strong female characters. Academy Award winner Frances McDormand leads a talented cast that includes Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, and Lucas Hedges.
“Three Billboards” introduces us to Mildred Hayes (McDormand), a mother frustrated with the lack of progress in finding the killer of her daughter Angela. Seven months has passed since the rape and murder of her daughter, so Mildred decides to take matters into her own hands. She rents three billboards near her home as a way to ask the police department why the investigation seems to go nowhere, specifically calling out police chief Bill Willoughby (Harrelson) by name.
As expected, the billboards rattle the population of Ebbing, with Mildred receiving her dose of daily harassment from the townspeople. However, one person takes particular issue with the billboards, Officer Jason Dixon (Rockwell). As tensions in the small town grow, Mildred begins taking extreme risks to ensure she gets the justice she deserves. But will her determined efforts be successful, or will her daughter’s murder remain unsolved?
Sam Rockwell and Frances McDormand in a confrontation scene from Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight: 2017)
‘Three Billboards’: Acting Tour de Force from Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell
Frances McDormand’s Oscar-winning performances is arguably one of the actress’ best turns in recent years. She portrays the grieving mother as the impulsive and resolute woman she is; creating a character that audiences can really sink their teeth into.
On the other hand, Sam Rockwell brings the complex character of Jason Dixon to the screen. This performance ultimately earned the “Moon” actor his first Academy Award. Rockwell’s turn as the controversial police officer makes for one of the film’s many highlights; even more so during an intense one-take scene in which Dixon goes on a rampage and violently throws Red Welby (Caleb Landry Jones) out of a window. The powerful performances from McDormand and Rockwell are complemented by a marvelous turn from Woody Harrelson as the Ebbing police chief, and a criminally underused Peter Dinklage.
Writer and director Martin McDonagh creates an impressive screenplay that perfectly balances the film’s hilarious black comedy with intense and emotional drama. However, the film’s ending can’t help but feel like a little bit of a letdown. It’s as if McDonagh either couldn’t figure out how to end the film, or just gave up, leaving audiences to guess what happened.
Nonetheless, cinematographer Ben Davis (“Eternals”, “Cry Macho”) crafts gorgeous visuals; and combined with the crisp editing courtesy of “In Bruges” editor Jon Gregory, ‘Three Billboards’ becomes an extremely enjoyable visual experience, even if you’re not invested in the story.
Woody Harrelson and Frances McDormand in a scene from Three Billboards in Ebbing, Missouri (Fox Searchlight: 2017)
A Tale of a Grieving Mother Seeking Justice at All Cost
If the film’s premise didn’t make it clear, ‘Three Billboards’ is a searing story about how far a woman will go to get the justice she deserves; with Mildred turning to burning down the police station in order to get her message across. However, the fact that Mildred had to put up the accusatory billboards potentially attests to how, sometimes, the police can be lazy when it comes to investigating certain cases. And Sam Rockwell’s Officer Dixon epitomizes this to a tee: he doesn’t take his job seriously, reads comics at work, and continues to mess about until he gets the boot.
Martin McDonagh delivers a tour de force with this 2017 crime drama. Showcasing knockout performances from both Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell, the film tells a harrowing story of one woman on her quest to get justice for her daughter’s brutal rape and murder. With McDonagh’s next directorial effort “The Banshees of Inisherin” set for release later this year; we can only hope that the British-Irish director’s skills transfer effectively from this gritty drama to a 1920s comedy drama set in Ireland.
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” is available to rent from most streaming services.
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