It's Not What I was Expecting

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2017)

The performances in this film are all spectacular. Frances McDormand shines as Mildred. She's brash, rude, abrasive; but deep down you realize she has a softer side. The character's nuance is what makes her so engaging. McDormand captures all of the different dimensions and aspects of her character perfectly, and it makes for a truly compelling lead. Woody Harrelson is also great as Chief Willoughby. He comes across as one way at first, but then you realize he is a completely different person than you had originally believed him to be. This is part of a larger idea with Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, one that I'll go into more detail on later. But the true star of this movie, for me, is Sam Rockwell. He gives one of the best performances I've seen from him in a while. I don't think it will happen, but right now I believe Rockwell to be deserving of a Best Supporting Actor nomination. His character is the backbone of the story, and is really what makes it as profound of a film as it is. I won't go into details on what they do with him, but I love the roller coaster of a direction they take the character. It gives the film a whole new layer of depth and dimension just in of itself...