Probably the best movie of 2017

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2018)

This movie was really intense. I loved it. Granted, it goes to some dark places but it has an interesting story to tell. The only reason why I've initially put off watching the movie was the title; it sounded kind of boring (but wasn't). Yes, the billboards are an integral part of the story but later the movie evolves past them. So just keep that in mind if you're thinking about giving the movie a watch.
Storytelling-wise the mysterious billboards were introduced in an interesting way. Instead of revealing them right away the billboards were initially obscured from the viewer. This leaves viewers with some time to speculate as to what it might have displayed to get the police officer so riled up. Really well done.
The mother (Mildred) seems to be known by locals which makes sense; I myself grew up in a small town where word traveled fast. An "everybody knows everybody" type of affair. So it is authentic in its execution.
The police officers in the movie are clearly corrupted (at least the majority of them). And when the billboards garner the attention of the media things get heated. It's a proverbial declaration of "war" so to speak. One dedicated mother against the local police department.
At first Mildred seems irrational and unreasonable towards Willoughby. After all he seems like an OK guy. But as we later find out both are flawed characters with demons to slay. They just deal with their individual situations differently. The loss of Mildred's daughter has made her bitter. And I do get it somehow. She seems very confrontational even with the very people who try to support her in her quest. Willoughby on the other hand is faced with a hard decision because he kept a secret. A secret that literally changes everything.
Dixon, the second protagonist, seems a little "slow" but that doesn't absolve him of his "controversial" past. He has a track record of "racial discrimination" and the locals are well aware of his racist past.
On a side note:
The scene with the dentist was pretty hilarious. You'll know what I mean when you watch the movie. I don't want to spoil it for you. It was quite unexpected.

There are some pretty interesting themes that are being explored during the movie. And storytelling-wise I liked that the characters were all multi-faceted.
There is a lot of peripety in the movie. Especially with the whole Willoughby situation. And then there's of course the whole thing with Dixon's redemption.
At heart it's a bittersweet story. It starts out rough around the edges but as the story progresses things become clearer and more refined.
To conclude: It's ultimately a story about forgiveness.
Humbling experiences are the biggest catalyst for change; positive change that is. This in essence is the most prevalent theme of the movie and that's what I like about it. Too many contemporary movies go the traditional "revenge" route. And it is getting quite boring after a while. This movie is more profound. Yes, it is a story about revenge, initially, but then seamlessly morphs into something much bigger; a compelling story with strong characters. Even the characters with minor roles felt grand because they were authentic. No role was "superfluous". It was a perfect amalgam.
I don't think the movie is for everybody. It does go to some dark places so I'd say that it's probably for people who have a certain level of "emotional" maturity. But overall it's a fantastic movie.
Final verdict: highly recommended (don't let the lame title fool you)