This remark passed through my mind, as I watched "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," a movie written and directed by famed Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, who is certainly not afraid to go to dark places. In that the film examines mostly the worst, but some of the best, of American human nature, I was surprised a film company gave this movie the go ahead. But it did, and so I commend the gesture.
Frances McDormand, who gives an Oscar caliber performance, plays Mildred Hayes, a mother whose daughter, Angela, is found raped and murdered, seven months before the film starts. Justice has not been served Mildred, or Angela, and with those three billboards, she intends to do something about it. Mildred Hayes, believe me, is the direct opposite of Marge Gunderson in "Fargo." And it is so brilliant of McDormand to enact both.
The town she lives in is small, banal, and narrow minded. There are some real assholes--like Sam Rockwell, as Officer Dixon, who, midway does a complete turn about that one just has to go with, or think back to McDonagh being a playwright, constructing character arcs, and playing around with moral ambiguity. And point-counterpoint; the viewer, from the first shot, feels Mildred's pain, and McDormand makes it felt. But when Dixon has his epiphany, he is the counterpart to Mildred--her pain is within (though she looks wrecked), but his is on display for all to see, via physical disfigurement.
"Three Billboards Outside, Missouri," is not an altogether perfect film, but it has the guts to get polemic. Which is why I find the attacks against it so intriguing--Sam Rockwell's character is attacked for being racist? You think racism does not exist in these podunk towns?????????? And how about that line, "Well, if we can't kill blacks, we can always kill gays?"
Why isn't the LGBQT community getting up in arms about that? As for McDormand being a "Velma Vigilante," well, who can blame her? I agree she goes too far with the police station thing, but this is a film where, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Dramatic inconsistencies mar the story, but does not rob it of its visceral impact, which is what the film is going for.
Yes, I think McDonagh could have done a little more shading, and clarified some of those inconsistencies. But this does not take away from a brilliant ensemble cast, featuring Woody Harelson and Peter Dinklage, a fine actor overall, whose attacks on his being cast here for his size is so ridiculous. If anything, being in a realistic film gives him more of a chance, than in the fanciful "Game Of Thrones," where his size takes on a quality of fantasy. It was brilliant of McDonagh to use him here, and I am sure Dinklage was thrilled with acting a realistic, straightforward role.
Did the moral ambiguity of the ending bother me? To a point, but it was realistic, and honest!
This film needs to be seen, for its fine performances, and ideas that make one think. It is sure to provoke discussions where everyone may not agree, but, then, how many films today get people talking? Or even make them think?
As for me girls, save the for the police station, I was with Mildred all the way!
How I wanted justice for she and Angela! But this is not TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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