Stong Acting and setting - weak story

Rating: 8/10 (29 November 2017)

British Director Martin McDonagh is a director that has intrigued me. He burst onto the scene (at least, to me) with the 2008 character study IN BRUGES. I next ran across him with the 2012 "B" movie action flick SEVEN PSYCOPATHS and now, in 2017 he brings us THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI.
In each of this films, McDonagh brings us interesting character studies set against a backdrop of violence. While the violence that punctuates this films - and these worlds - it is the characters in the films reaction to the violence that intrigues me.
Such is the case with THREE BILLBOARDS...Frances McDormand plays Mildred a mother who is still angry over the rape and murder of her daughter 9 months ago and take her anger out to the local Police who, she thinks, have stopped trying to solve the case.
McDormand commands the screen in the lead role of Mildred. She has a strength of character - and a backbone - that jumps off the screen. Her anger continues to seethe just under the surface and explodes outward from time to time. But, this is no one note character. There also is a charm, understanding and motherly love and warmth that comes out - especially when she deals with her son (played by Lucas Hedges of MANCHESTER BY THE SEA) and when she deals with the Sheriff played by Woody Harrelson.
Counterbalancing McDormand's performance is Sam Rockwell as the dimwitted, bigoted Deputy Sheriff. He is all testosterone and drunkenness and explodes on the scene just as strongly as McDormand's character. But, again, this is not a one-note character. Throughout the course of the film, you get to know Deputy Dixon and begin to understand him - somewhat.
Both McDormand and Rockwell are being touted as potential Acadamy Award nominees and I would be fine with that - especially in the performance of Rockwell, an under-appreciated actor, IMHO. But, I would also like to point out the performance of Woody Harrelson as Sheriff Willoughby - another fine, nuanced performance that shows, once again, what a terrific performer he is.
These performances are joined by other strong supporting performances, most notably by Caleb Landry Jones, Abbie Cornish and Sandy Martin as "Mama Dixon", Deputy Dixon's just as dimwitted and bigoted mother. Suffice it to say, the apple didn't fall very far from the tree. Only Peter Dinklage is wasted in what amounts to an extended cameo. It had the potential to be a good role, there just wasn't enough there to satisfy - especially when employing an actor of Dinklage's ability.
Why am I spending so much time talking about the acting? Because the story is problematic and the ending is less than satisfying. I enjoyed the characters in this world, and I understood the world that was built by Director McDondagh but I just didn't particularly like the story that was told.
So...A for acting and C+ for story which makes this film have a letter grade of B+.
7 1/2 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)