Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

'Three Billboards' is the latest from Martin McDonagh, who brought us the highly underrated 'Seven Psychopaths' a couple of years back. Here, he brings the same sharp wit, dark humor, and over the top profanity and violence he's known for while also bringing some newer elements to the table, resulting in a film that is at times very conflicting in its tone, but in a good way. The always lovely Frances McDormand stars as a distraught mother whose daughter was brutally murdered a couple years ago. Seeing no results in the case, she becomes a distant and bitter woman who sees three empty billboards outside of town as a way to make great change, but not in the way she might have hoped.

In my previous review of 'The Shape of Water', I gave the film props for giving every character a true purpose behind their motivations rather than relying on old cliches. 'Three Billboards' does this again and even better, especially when it comes to the character of Dixon played by Sam Worthington. When you see him in the beginning, he's a drunk, racist policeman who doesn't get along with many people and who does horrible things to people. However, as the film moves along you see him change in ways you'd never expect and out of all the cast, he is the most interesting to watch as he transforms by the end credits. With that being said, I don't wish to take anything away from McDormand or Woody Harrelson who also do some of their best work here, but their characterization is not as deep as you'd think given that they are the main focus of the film. McDormand can turn off audience members sometimes as well given her blunt and violent attitude even though you realize that she has the best intentions at heart.

It's these complex and intricate little paths that these characters have that makes 'Billboards' such an excellent film. These are real people, not just actors playing a part but real people that you may know or have seen before and that's great filmmaking when it can invest you that much into the picture. And while the film does have an overall dark dramatic theme to it, the humor does compliment rather than derail that drama and tension. I think this film has some of the funniest lines I've heard in a film all year, with most of them being too vulgar to repeat but still the comedy elements are surprisingly unobtrusive and helps lighten the mood just enough to keep you going. If I had any kind of complaint, it would have to be the ending. I won't spoil it here, but I didn't feel very comfortable with the implications or the abruptness it had but that may just be this humble critic's opinion.

'Three Billboards' is one of the best films of 2017 and will likely sweep the awards season and deserves to do so. This film has the best performances, a well written and greatly paced screenplay, and some of the most relatable and deep characters in a film. It's McDonagh's best work by far and gets my approval for that coveted Best Picture award.

9.5/10