mini review of #3Billboards

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2018)

Mini review of: 3 Billboards Outside Ebbing,Missouri
A strong contender for the Oscar, recent multiple winner at the Golden Globe Awards, Martin McDonagh's (In Bruges) little film with a long, awkward title is proving to have some legs.
A few critics have noted that the film by McDonagh, an Englishman, is somewhat tone deaf when it comes to portraying race relations in little town America. I disagree with that assessment particularly in view of the myriad shootings of unarmed black men by cops which have occured recently in the U.S. in little towns similar to Ebbing and bigger towns as well. Many of these same cops have not suffered any consequences for their actions. The film sticks pretty close to reality in that respect. Although no black individuals come to harm there is plenty of brutal, unwarranted, unjustifiable violence at the hands of a cop played with just the right amount of righteous stupidity by Sam Rockwell.
The story is one of revenge and retribution. Frances McDormand, excellent in the role of mother Mildred Hayes ,blows what's left of her money on 3 vacant billboards accusing the Sherrif's department of laxity and incompetence in solving the rape and death of her daughter which occurred over a year ago.
These accusations will lead to a closer look at the ugly underbelly of small town America rife with racism, rage, stupidity and violence. It's not a stretch to suggest that it hits close to home on all those targets.
Woody Harrelson is very good as the Sheriff, he's not without compassion, sensitivity or humor. He also has a big secret which apparently the whole town knows about. Peter Dinklage has a small but memorable role. I wanted more of him. His dinner out with Mildred is priceless. The character played by Rockwell has a bit of an epiphany at the end which is not totally believable given the propensity of the character to act impulsively and without thinking but it does serve to tie the ending in an almost neat bow. My grade: A-