In lieu of another garbage mediocre film from Netflix to watch at night, I decided to give Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri a shot. I have honestly not been very enticed by this film since its release, but due to its Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor wins, I suppose it was time to watch it. I am so glad that I did, because this was one of the most emotionally-draining and compelling films I have seen in a while. It contained some of the best performances from a cast ever and a story that kept you engaged the entire time.
The best part about this film were undoubtedly the performances. Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell were absolutely stellar in their roles and really brought life to their characters. The character of Mildred, played by McDormand, was the most riveting part of this film (as can be seen by her new Academy Award). Her character went through so much and really did all she could in order to get justice for her daughter who had been raped and killed. The billboards were a very interesting plot device as well, as they symbolized the undying fight for what is right, and in this case, it was hard to do that in this racist and unfocused part of Missouri. This was all due to the police officers in the town, who are very interesting characters themselves. Woody Harrelson played Chief Willoughby, who was called out for not being able to get things done and control his own station. His character was extremely interesting, and the scene with the letter that he wrote his wife was absolutely devastating, given that he (spoilers) shot himself in the head because of his cancer. The other character that I loved seeing was Sam Rockwell's Dixon, who seemed to be the archetypal racist cop. His character started off this way, and I was extremely bored by his development and began to wonder why he won Best Supporting Actor. However, once his character was fired and he began more of his development, I definitely say why. This character was one of the most complex characters ever, and was developed so smoothly. Little hints of Dixon trying to improve himself despite his current personality included things like saying "people of color" instead of the n-word. Even though his intentions were not morally correct off-the-bat, the trials that he was put through in this movie further cement him as one of the best-built characters in dramatic history.
Besides the astounding performances, there were many technical aspects that I loved in this film. Those include the gorgeous cinematography and a few of the most "wow" moments. The camera work in this film was amazing, and Ben Davis is a master of his craft, previously working on McDonagh's Seven Psychopaths and James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, strangely enough. It makes sense though, as these films are very aesthetically and visually pleasing. Many shots throughout this film focused on the symbolic parts of the story, and that is a form of storytelling all in itself. A few of the "wow" moments in this film were the scene between Mildred and the deer and every scene with Mildred and her ex-husband Charlie, played by John Hawkes. The deer scene was unbelievably emotional, as Mildred truly connected with the confused forest animal that she believed might be the reincarnation of her daughter. This is doubtful (McDormand's character says it herself), but the level of emotion that she reached in this scene was incredible. As was all of her scenes with her ex-husband Charlie. The addition of having this character in the film was a smart move, as it proved that they could successfully pull of multiple storylines flawlessly. His inclusion did not feel out of place whatsoever, and was worked into the story very smoothly. All of the stories interwoven in this film worked very well together, and nothing felt out of place in the slightest.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a riveting drama that combines fantastic performances with an incredible story. Along with a small role from Peter Dinklage, this film truly lived up to the hype that I hoped it would. I would absolutely recommend this film for anyone seeking a dark and beautiful drama that constantly pulls on your emotions.
My Rating: ★★★★
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