One of the best of 2017!

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2017)

Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is one of the very best films of the year and a wonderful showcase of actors, writing and direction.
Frances McDormand stars as Mildred, a woman who knows that the investigation into her daughter's rape and subsequent murder has stalled. Tired of the police dragging their feet, she rents three billboards outside of her home town , each of them asking Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), why her daughter's murder has not been solved.
This leads to people in the town taking sides, events start to unravel and things take very interesting turns that the audience will probably not see coming as Mildred has to take matters into her own hands to find justice for her daughter.
McDormand has been acting for a long time, winning an Oscar in 1996 for her brilliant work in Fargo. Moviegoers may take advantage of the fact that she is so great but she has rarely been in this fine form. As Mildred, she tackles a role of a no-nonsense woman (which she plays so well) but brings such humanity to her that we are with her every step of the way, even if her decisions are extreme at best.
Sam Rockwell does his best work as officer Dixon, an intense, racist cop who has quite a temper and works on impulse too much of the time. Rockwell's character takes a turn at one point and Rockwell plays unhinged so well that he is as consistent as he has ever been.
The supporting cast is rounded out well by Lucas Hedges, John Hawkes and Peter Dinklage. McDonagh puts out one of the best scripts of the year laced with laugh out loud dark humor and quiet, dramatic moments that balance so effortlessly. It's hard to predict what comes next and that is what drives this film.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is one of the must see films of the year and I can predict will probably make my top five films. The performances are outstanding, especially McDormand and Rockwell, the script and direction are top notch and this is a great murder mystery comedy/drama. It is such a unique film and one that feels completely real. 4 stars/ 4 stars.
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