This very enjoyable film feels like a welcome Joel & Ethan Coen bonus production. It has some of the same feel and cleverness as 1996s’ crime thriller Fargo which also starred Frances McDormand. McDormand won an Academy Award for that one. She also happens to be Joel Coen’s wife of many years. They met at the auditions for the Coen brothers’ debut feature, Blood Simple.
Saying Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri feels like a Coen brothers film … is that a huge disservice to director Martin McDonagh? After all, he has delighted us in the past with the superb In Bruges (2008) and later on with the not-so-fantastic Seven Psychopaths (2012). The boy can certainly write. Somehow I do feel, though, that working on a picture far removed from his Anglo-Irish roots, McDonagh sought inspiration from the Coens.
Whether that is true or not is unimportant. The fact is that McDonagh has written and directed another very funny movie. It has a fantastic cast delivering great lines and you are going to quite possibly pee your pants a little bit. You are going to love it!
Wonderful Cinema strongly recommends you do not ruin the impact the director meticulously planned for you by watching trailers or reading spoilers. For those of you who cannot resist:
You can find more information on this American movie on Wikipedia, IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
Production Details
Title: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Director: Martin McDonagh
Year, Country, Language: 2017, USA, English
Stars: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, John Hawkes (click here for full cast)
Screenplay: Martin McDonagh
Cinematography: Ben Davis
Editing: Jon Gregory
Score: Carter Burwell
Wonderful Cinema 
OK, heart on my sleeve, I can’t stand McDormand. She is like some fake ‘grand dame’ of cinema; and so full of herself, it makes my skin crawl. I loved ‘Blood Simple’, and ‘Fargo’, but not for her. She almost ruined two good films for me, so thanks to the rest of the cast for saving them. Seriously though, who does she think she is? I don”t even want to see this film, to be brutally honest. The hype has made me feel as if I have had too many sweets. Just me then?
Best wishes, Pete.
Haha! Oh, Pete, you made me laugh! I adore McDormand but I have had the same extremely strong reaction towards some actors in the past.
Andie MacDowell; oh my word, I hate that woman. I think I quite liked her in Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989). And she was brilliant in Short Cuts (1993). But Green Card (1990), Groundhog Day (1993), and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) – so up her own arse! I can’t stand her.
Nicolas Cage; man, did I despise that guy! Again, so full of himself. He enraged me! But then I saw him in Leaving Las Vegas (1995) and 8MM (1999), I had a complete turnaround.
Julia Roberts is another actor I cannot stand. She was good in Erin Brockovich (2000) but everything else I’ve seen her in, I just want to strangle her!
Denzel Washington. Where to start. God, what an over-acting baffoon. I think Training Day (2001) is the only film I ever liked him in, although I may have liked him in Philadelphia (1993) – I don’t remember.
Pete, I think everyone has at least one or two actors who really rub them up the wrong way, and perhaps for no apparent reason. The most interesting thing for me is to look back and remember how much I wanted to hit Nicolas Cage over the back of the head with a brick and how I love the guy to bits now!
I am also known for despising Julia Roberts, so we are occasionally in the same page, old friend! 🙂 (And yes, MacDowell is a crap actress too!)
I think there’s a distinct possibility that You would make My skin crawl….
Harsh… There was some intentional humour there, but you missed it.
I got the humor, but I thought You were being a bit harsh…I do apologize for saying that to you, though. Looking at it now, I’m surprised I was that harsh, myself…I HAD to have been having an awfully shitty day–so, I’m sorry. I apologize. I know it’s been 2 years, but I felt a need to tell you that I’m generally not that hateful a person…cheers!🫣
Thanks for your reply. It was worth the wait. Have a great Christmas.
Best wishes, Pete.
And I gave this film a great review on my own blog, but you missed that too.
Honestly…I quite liked Seven Psychopaths actually 😊😊
My parents went to this movie last week and really enjoyed it. This one is definitely on my to watch list. Really had to laugh at Pete’s comment as well…but I really love McDormand. I think she is terrific.
It’s funny how some people can get under your skin though. Denzel Washington for me is a terrific actor for instance….and for you…erm…not so much I think 😊😊
Don’t watch it! Don’t fall for the hype! 🙂
Haha…Seriously Pete…had to laugh out loud at this 😂😂
Oh my God, we have a hijacking film review terrorist in our midst!! 😀
This is what makes our world so wonderful, Michel. If everyone agreed, it would be a lot more boring! Of course, it causes so many problems too. Ach, the human nature!
Yeah…so true, but it also makes for some wonderful discussions 😊😊
Yes the Coen brothers feeling as you call it 😀
Ah, good. I’m not the only one, then!
Reblogged this on The Inquiring Mind and commented:
McDormand is just superb
As always. I love her!
I haven’t seen this yet, but looking forward to it. Loved “in Bruges”, and McDormand is a treat to watch.
If you liked In Bruges, Deborah, you’ll like this one. It’s perhaps not as clever but it’s still damn good!
Great performances across the board. Nice review.
Thanks, Dan!
Nope no spoilers for me – going to see on Saturday. 🙂 I’m glad Frances found someone to deeply invest in her talent all these years. She is truly unique.
If you have time, Tanyeno, do drop us a line on Sunday and tell us what you thought of it!
Hi Shimky. Cancelled my date tonight, my father died. So this will be a rental at another time. If I love it, a blog will pop up about it at some moment…
Just wasn’t in the mood – tonight.
I’m so sorry to hear your news, Tanyeno. My thoughts are with you.
Shimky, thank-you. Appreciate it.
There is a very interesting article in the Guardian newspaper today about some aspects of the film:
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb/01/three-billboards-portrayal-of-dwarfism-is-reductive-and-ableist-and-i-would-know
Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
I thought this was a great movie. Yeah, there was a lot of hype about it but I managed to go in with limited expectations. I didn’t read too many reviews beforehand which I think helped. I thought all the acting was great across the board.