A great movie, in many ways flawless

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2018)

Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri (2017)
A stunning, moving, funny as heck movie. You almost have to compare it to "Fargo" for its depth and wit simultaneously. Both movies dig into a caricatured America, in this case the South (I'm not sure they ever say where, but it feels like Georgia.)
The great character here has to be the woman who pays for ads on billboards, and who drives the plot--Frances McDormand--and who also happens to be the amazing lead in "Fargo." Yeah. Here she doesn't quite don a full southern accent the way she became rural Minnesota in a lick, but she's a perfect type, and tough. Around her are the nuanced but funny kinds of people you'd expect, especially a cadre of cops that includes Woody Harrelson, always an asset, this time as an honorable chief of police with cancer.
The third big name is Sam Rockwell, who is terrific as a troubled cop. His role grows as the movie twists. Any scene with McDormand and Harrelson, or with her and Rockwell, is really amazing. Good acting is good acting.
The script here is great. I think it is the screenplay of the year and should get the Oscar, never mind the fun originality of "Get Out" which lacks the subtle insights and natural language here.
There are other levels to love this movie on, from the music (Carter Burwell) to the photography (Ben Davis). Almost no one is a famous contributor beyond the actors, including the director and writer, Martin McDonagh. That's partly what makes it all fresh and honest.
It's a great movie. Do not miss it.