Great performances in a movie that could - and should - have been so much better.

Rating: 7/10 (6 March 2018)

My obsession with Frances McDormand quite frankly knows no bounds. I first saw her in "Raising Arizona" and followed her through Coen Brothers (and other) movies - mostly terrific and some not-quite-so-good. My obsession with Sam Rockwell is equally obsessive. He is quite possibly my favorite 'not famous' actor working today. I saw the trailer for "Three Billboards..." many, many months ago, saw both names and faces and thought "this is a film I MUST see." But living in an area surrounded by 'Giving You Only the Latest Block-Buster" Cineplexes, it came and went in literally one week and I never got the chance. After having seen McDormand AND Rockwell win Oscars for their roles last night I bought the DVD today, thinking "I WILL LOVE THIS MOVIE." But I can't say I did. The performances I did love - especially McDormand's. It ranged from explosive rage to intense sorrow, darkly funny sarcasm to obsessive neurosis, self-destructive insecurity to absolutely crippling guilt, tender, matronly moments to "you gonna F with me??" bravado . No spoilers, but she absolutely EARNED that Oscar last night. Rockwell did too. My only problem with the film as a whole is the writing. The story itself was gripping, moving, and (again, at times) darkly funny. Having said that, plot holes abound. Watch it, and you'll see what I mean. Also is my issue with the "terrible characters ultimately very quickly reformed and redeemed without consequence." IT'S A WORK OF FICTION, I keep telling myself. But the incredibly serious subject matter of the film doesn't really lend itself to that sort of suspension of disbelief one would take into, say, a Science Fiction movie or the latest Marvel blockbuster. In short, it's a good film featuring some incredible acting (a HUGE shout out to Woody Harrelson, showing range I've never seen from him in ANY movie) that has some serious yet, in hindsight, fixable plot holes and "whaaaat?" moments. Then again, it's "just a movie." But don't let my opinion sway you from watching it on cable. If you're a fan of any of these actors you will, if nothing else, be drawn into their performances.