It takes you somewhere other than where you expected it to go

Rating: 9/10 (24 March 2018)

I watched this movie on the airplane flight home last night. Early into the movie I was ready to switch to something else. I decided to stick with it for a bit longer, and it turned out to be a worthwhile decision.
This movie takes you on a trip. The story is not about the three billboards or the death of Mildred's daughter. It's a story that's a mini life story about each of its key characters, Willoughby, Dixon, James the dwarf, and even the supporting characters. The tone makes me think of Breaking Bad or Boardwalk Empire. The big story is just a frame to insert the personal stories into. It's like binge watching a Netflix series all in one movie. By the end, you feel like you've come to know and understand the people, who in the beginning of the movie seemed like strange, mean, hateful people.
It's a great movie because, like most great movies, it breaks with expectations and takes you somewhere other than where you thought it would go.