“Raped While Dying,” “And Still No Arrests?,” “How Come, Chief Willoughby?” It’s the most clever plot premise of the year. Irish filmmaker Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths) brings us a pitch-black dark comedy titled ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.’ It’s like no other film that is playing in theaters right now. It is divisive, violent, funny and heartbreaking to watch. It is McDonagh’s intention to make the audience squirm a bit and feel uncomfortable. The reason it is being hailed as one of the best films of the year is that Frances McDormand kills it in the lead role. This is her finest performance since she won the Best Actress Academy Award for ‘Fargo.’ There are moments where the film goes outrageously over-the-top but it is the electrifying acting from the stellar cast that keeps ‘Three Billboards’ grounded.
Mildred Hayes (McDormand) is a grieving mother who is still suffering the loss of her daughter that was brutally raped and murdered. Seven months have passed and there is still no killer found. Mildred stops and stares at three dilapidated billboards on a little-used road that leads to her home. She decides to head to the advertising office and rent out the three billboards with three messages directed toward the Chief of Police. Chief Willoughby (an excellent Woody Harrelson) comes knocking at Mildred’s door to tell her that the billboards are unfair. He explains to her that it isn’t easy catching a killer and is unable to arrest anyone without a DNA match. He pleads with her, “I’d do anything to catch your daughter’s killer.” He even drops a bombshell to her and Mildred is unwavering. She is pissed off and has just begun to fight. One problem she faces is a small town that likes and supports the local police chief.
This is a complicated film with no easy answers. The characters like Chief Willoughby are not painted black and white like a real movie villain. The Police Chief is a likable guy and at times Mildred is not a very likable person. She is on a quest for justice and she will do anything to get it including violence. The problem with her vigilante form of justice is that she crosses the line and makes poor decisions based on her anger at the entire town for not caring about finding her daughter’s killer. It’s not that the town does not care; it’s that like any heinous crime, they want to forget about it and move on. Mildred’s three billboards is her way of telling the town that this is not good enough. She has to live everyday of her life knowing that the murderer is still free preventing her from having any sort of closure. McDonagh adds plenty of twists and turns therefore describing the plot points any further would spoil it for you.
The talent of the ensemble cast runs deep. Manchester by the Sea’s Lucas Hedges is outstanding as Mildred’s teenage son. John Hawkes plays her ex-husband who now dates an airheaded 19-year-old girlfriend. Peter Dinklage plays a warmhearted guy who wants to take Mildred out for a steak dinner and Caleb Landry Jones is the sign company manager for the rented billboards. They all deliver credible performances and add depth to the wacky backwoods town. However, the most spellbinding performance has to go to Sam Rockwell as Officer Jason Dixon. He comes off as a dimwitted racist cop that evolves into someone entirely different by the third act. Although the movie goes to ridiculous extremes with violence, it is the top-notch acting from the cast that is the reason to see ‘Three Billboards.’ This film might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it is undeniable that Frances McDormand gives one of the best performances of the year.
