An incredible concoction of the gritty real with exaggerated fiction

Rating: 8/10 (12 February 2018)

As with Martin McDonagh's 'In Bruges' and 'Seven Psychopaths', 3 Billboards is a film that that wears the crude and crass as a badge of honour. But McDonagh also adeptly weaves a story that is both surprising and easy to invest in.
We see fantastically performed caricatures in the abhorrent Dixon (Sam Rockwell) and the well-meaning but traditional Police Chief (Woody Harrilson). These are well balanced by the more grounded and impressive performances of Frances McDormand, as the gritty and determined Mildred, and Get Out's Caleb Landry Jones. It's a strange, but enjoyable line to walk between the exaggerated and the gritty real.
The themes of hope and hopelessness, redemption and damnation, prejudice and and love are all explored on the backdrop of a hyperbolic backwater USA and underpinned by western-esque guitar motifs from composer Carter Burwell of Fargo and True Grit.
My only complaint for this film is the occasional misplaced attempt at humour and shock. I understood, and even mentally applauded, McDonaghs signature examination of truths we often shy away from, but also felt that sometimes it was shock for shock's sake. An example would be Peter Dinklage's inclusion as the character James, who seemed to only exist in the plot to present the ritual abuse of his height.
Overall this is an incredible concoction of the gritty real with exaggerated fiction and features some stellar performances as a surprising plot unfolds. Some heavy handed shock humour doesn't get close to damaging my appreciation for this film.