Fox Searchlight Film Review - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Anger is the fuel that drives the action both literally and metaphorically in "Three Billboards". At the head of the wronged cast of characters is Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) who 7 months after her daughters rape and death has heard nothing new from the police and does not want the case to fall off the radar. Next in line is Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell) living with his mother, short on smarts but angry ever since his fathers death takes out his anger on the citizens of the small Missouri town especially the ones that don't look like him. Third is Mildred's ex-husband Charlie (John Hawkes) an ex-cop and former wife beater who is now shacked up with a dimwitted 19 year old (Samara Weaving) who could be a surrogate for easing the pain of loosing a teenage daughter in a violent act.

If you live in a town where the police department openly spout derogatory names for its colourful citizens while Police Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) states that if you got rid of all of the racist cops the ones left would be homophobic then you're clearly in frontier land. Writer Director Martin McDonagh has not made a feel good movie. Instead his creation is raw, hurtful mean and confrontational. McDonagh goes a different way by turning the background sound off during intense exchanges.

Frances McDormand sets the tone as Mildred. She is tough as nails with a heart full of pain that will take on a police chief, rogue deputy or teenage girl if they get in her way. Lucas Hedges continues a run of strong teenage performances as Mildred son Robbie all. He has to suffer the consequences of his mom's actions at school. Then on the way home see the billboards that continually rip open the unhealed wound of the violent loss of his sister. Robbie openly opposes his mom's authority with verbal attacks then takes it to a differently level towards his dad in perhaps the most intense moment in the film.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is not about what the viewer would expect when they first enter the theatre. Instead it's about family and community relationships in a small town where startling if not criminal acts are largely ignored becuase deep down the actor is a good person that the town supports. But even if they aren't the citizens are still willing to look the other way. An excellent cast master a challenging and unique material making this film one that I can truly recommend.

**** Out of 4.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri | Martin McDonagh | UK/USA | 2017 | 115 Minutes.

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