McDormand and Rockwell shine in Oscar calibre roles in one of the year's very best and original films.

Rating: 10/10 (19 November 2017)

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (2017) **** Francis McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Caleb Landry Jones, Abbie Cornish, Lucas Hedge, Zeljko Ivanek, Amanda Warren, Sandy Martin, Peter Dinklage, John Hawkes, Samara Weaving, Clarke Peters. Pitch black comedy/drama with McDormand (in an Oscar calibre turn) as an unapologetically strident, small-town woman seeking justice by buying advertising space to shame the local constable (Harrleson in a solid, low-key turn) for not solving the rape/murder of her daughter, fanning the fires for anger in the community and familial discord. Rockwell (also award worthy) is a hoot as a bigoted, imbecile cop on the force who is more than he appears and that could equally apply to the riotously profane and surprisingly poignant film by writer/director Martin McDonagh who shows in more ways than one that still waters run deep. One of the year's very best and highly original films.