Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

• Year: 2017
• Released: 01 Dec 2017
• Country: United Kingdom, United States
• Adwords: Won 2 Oscars. 133 wins & 235 nominations total
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5027774/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/three_billboards_outside_ebbing_missouri
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri
• Available in: 720p, 1080p,
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
• Runtime: 115 min
• Writer: Martin McDonagh
• Director: Martin McDonagh
• Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell
• Keywords: murder, small town, rape, suicide, dark comedy,

	8.1/10
	88/100
	91% – Critics
	87% – Audience

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Storyline

It’s been seven months since Angela Hayes was discovered raped and murdered outside her small hometown of Ebbing, Missouri. Because of what she believes is the police inaction on the case, frustrated and angry Mildred Hayes, Angela’s divorced working class mother, rents the three no longer used billboards, despite the cost of the rental which she really cannot afford, on a local road just outside of town for one year, the billboards to have messages in simple, bold faced text highlighting that police inaction on the case. Mildred, via the billboards, names Chief Bill Willoughby directly as although not the lead investigator, he is the chief and the “buck stops with him”. Using his name is also despite Mildred knowing what is probably the worst kept secret in town: that he is suffering from a terminal case of pancreatic cancer, his eventually passing which would leave him survived by his loving wife and two adolescent daughters. The police’s lead investigator in Angela’s case, Jason Dixon, is openly racist, misogynistic, homophobic and a mama’s boy, who prefers to read comic books than do any meaningful work. With the billboards the highest profile action on the matter in months, the rhetoric and associated actions ratchets up on both sides with each having his or her supporters who are not afraid to show that support largely through intimidation on their own initiative. Any support Mildred gets, which does not include from her abusive ex-husband Charlie who is in a relationship with nineteen year old Penelope, is despite she not being easy to like outside of this situation, she and Angela who did not have the best of mother/daughter relationships. As both sides try to protect their position, the fact of Angela herself may get lost in the process.

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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Movie Reviews

Anger begets more anger

Frances McDormand is a grieving mother who puts up “Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri” in this 2017 black comedy directed by Martin McDonagh.

Mildred Hayes (McDormand) is disgusted that the police haven’t found her daughter’s rapist and killer, so she takes out billboards asking why the chief of police, Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) hasn’t done anything about the case.

The billboards set off anger, violence, and revenge motifs in this small town. Things become worse when a pent-up police officer, Dixon (Sam Rockwell) becomes enraged and starts acting out.

Lots of swearing, lots of violence, and lots of laughs to be had in this film. It was strange to watch as I had just seen another film, Past Life, that focused on the subject of anger and pain, and how it can eat a person up and destroy them. This film is yet another good illustration of that, as Mildred stops at nothing to make a point.

The one-liners are amazing, and Mildred’s speech to the priest who comes by to ask her to remove the billboards is hilarious. The movie is filled with strong performances and equally well-developed characters. We see all of their sides – violent, kind, vengeful, angry, sad; we finally realize they’re just people driven in some cases to extremes.

Harrelson’s performance is touching — we’re prepared to dislike him but his sincerity and humanity come through. As Dixon, Rockwell seems like a monster, but once he acts out, he’s able to focus his energy a little better.

And then there’s McDormand, a powerhouse. She’s not good ol’ Marge in Fargo. She’s a tough woman with a broken heart who takes out her anger any way she can. It’s a beautiful, multilayered performance. Highly recommended, asking the questions of where revenge and hatred can take us, and deciding when and if it stops.

Bits and pieces are wonderful but the whole doesn’t add up to a great picture.

So far, this film has an IMDb rating of 8.3…and this is extraordinarily high. But the film has been in festivals and I am sure the rating will change some when the film is in general release. As for me, I think it’s incredibly overrated.

The story is about an angry mom, Mildred (Frances McDormand). Her daughter was brutally murdered and raped…and the police haven’t been able to do anything with the case. So, in desperation and anger, she rents out three billboards and calls the local Police Chief (Woody Harrelson) to task for this. Surprisingly, most of the town comes down against Mildred…who was just exercising her First Amendment rights. What happens from there…well, just see the film.

There were many wonderful scenes and characters in this picture. But, there were also many main characters who were just god-awful and unlikable…including Mildred! In fact, later in the film when she thinks the police department has wronged her, she burns down the building and accidentally flames one of the cops! So, no one who is a main character in the film is nice or likable…making this movie a bit of a hard-sell. Too much cussing (even by 2017 standards), very crude language and overall nastiness prevent this one from being a must- see film.

Comedy, tragedy and morality rolled into one

Saw ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ on the promise of one of the year’s best trailers, the immensely talented cast, the intriguing subject matter, the receiving and pending of numerous accolades and being familiar with Martin McDonagh’s previous work.

On the most part ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ was incredibly well done. Understandably it is not for all. The film has already been criticised for implausibility, bigotry, the ending and its lack of character likeability and over-the-top actions, though often without acknowledging the film’s many strengths and resorting to condescension (a big bugbear of mine) towards people who liked it let alone loved it.

Did have a couple of issues with ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ myself. The ending is far too abrupt and without resolution in a film crying out for one.

Epileptics should beware too of a dizzyingly edited attempted murder scene, understand why it was edited that way but will admit that it did make me feel ill watching it (luckily it quickly passed).

Abbie Cornish felt out of place here, she doesn’t have a lot to do (not enough to single handedly ruin the film, she would have to have a far more major role to do that) but everything about her just jarred.

There are some implausible behaviours and consequences, Dixon’s actions were more than just a sackable offense for instance.

However, there is so much to like about ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’. With the sole exception of Cornish, who isn’t in it enough to ruin the film, the acting is brilliant. Frances McDormand’s performance is a career high and one of the year’s best, very heartfelt and fiery, even if you don’t condone some of her actions it is hard not to feel for her as she goes through every mother’s worst nightmare. Woody Harrelson is heart-breaking and has the film’s most sympathetic character perhaps (either he or Peter Dinklage’s, although Dinklage doesn’t have the film’s most tragic scene).

Sam Rockwell is similarly a revelation, you initially dislike his character but later on his 180 is incredibly moving and he is the character who changes and redeems the most. Peter Dinklage always makes anything better and it’s the same here just by his presence alone and his performance is the most likeable one, especially towards the end where one actually feels sorry for him.

Another standout is the writing, do not let the heavy use of profanity put you off. There are parts that are darkly comic and induce a number of chuckles and laugh out louds. The film also works as being one that is morally nuanced and complex, the characters are not “likeable” ones, neither were they intended to be, and make questionable decisions but they undergo changes that sees them in a different perspective (Dixon especially).

A large part of me found it difficult to not relate to Mildred, her actions are extreme at times but there are parents in the same situation that feel similarly seeing as grief is an incredibly powerful and complex emotion. It’s the tragic elements that resonate most though, with its heavy going themes handled very poignantly and harrowingly. ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ has a story that is deliberate but also gripping, with an adept balance of its varied tones. Which is why it is sad that it ends as unsatisfyingly as it does.

With the exception of one scene, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ is succinctly edited and grittily and beautifully shot. McDonagh directs very skilfully. Carter Burwell’s music score fits perfectly and is a hypnotic, understated and melancholic score in its own right. Just as fitting in a somewhat ironic way is the use of the gorgeous “Last Rose of Summer” exquisitely sung by Renee Fleming, whose voice one familiar with and loves classical music and opera (like me) recognises from anywhere.

Overall, gripping and very well done film if not perfect. The performances are among the best of the year especially but the film itself as an overall whole just falls a tad short of being one of the year’s best films. 8/10 Bethany Cox