Some directors exhibit inconsistent quality in their filmography. While certain works demonstrate exceptional artistry, others fall considerably short of expectations, making it difficult to attribute them to the same creative vision. Steven Spielberg, for example, has a filmography characterized by both remarkable successes and notable failures. Conversely, directors like Martin McDonagh have maintained a consistently high standard. To date, McDonagh has written and directed three feature films – In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, and the subject of this review – all of which are critically acclaimed.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri centers on a heinous crime committed in the quiet town of Ebbing. The local police department, largely comprised of inexperienced officers, appears ill-equipped to solve the case. Frustrated by their perceived incompetence, the victim’s mother, Mildred (Frances McDormand), devises a bold strategy to instigate action. She purchases advertising space on three prominent billboards just outside the city limits, displaying a direct and accusatory message to the town’s Sheriff Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), demanding accountability. This act quickly divides the community, creating factions that either support the police or side with Mildred, ultimately leading to escalating tensions and violence.
Frances McDormand delivers a compelling performance as Mildred, a role that Martin McDonagh specifically envisioned for her. McDormand initially hesitated to accept the part, expressing concerns that at 58, she might be too old to convincingly portray a mother with children in their twenties. However, her husband, director Joel Coen (Fargo), encouraged her to embrace the role, a decision that proved to be exceptionally beneficial to the film.
McDormand’s portrayal of Mildred is defined by her unwavering toughness, evident in her interactions with both the inept local police and insolent students. One particularly memorable scene features Mildred delivering a scathing rebuke to the town’s priest, resulting in one of the film’s most powerful monologues. Similarly, the town’s dentist learns a harsh lesson after provoking Mildred.
Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri possesses a quality that is often lacking in contemporary cinema: the element of surprise. The narrative consistently subverts expectations, resisting predictable outcomes. Woody Harrelson’s portrayal of Sheriff Willoughby, a character grappling with terminal cancer, adds another layer of complexity. A scene in which Willoughby interrogates Mildred poignantly reveals the severity of his condition. In a less nuanced film, Mildred’s reaction might have been predictable, but here, she displays empathy, adding depth to her character. Willoughby also undergoes a transformation, revealing a more multifaceted persona as the story unfolds.
My first exposure to Sam Rockwell was in the critically acclaimed comedy Galaxy Quest, where his talent was undeniable, even amidst a cast that included Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver. In Three Billboards, Rockwell plays Dixon, a racist, hot-tempered, and seemingly unintelligent police officer. Dixon, who lives with his mother, embodies the stereotype of a dim-witted small-town cop. However, Martin McDonagh masterfully challenges these initial perceptions, presenting a more nuanced and complex character. I will refrain from revealing the specifics to avoid spoiling the plot.
Other noteworthy performances are delivered by Peter Dinklage, Sandy Martin, Abbie Cornish, and Lucas Hedges. One particularly poignant scene between Peter Dinklage and Frances McDormand begins humorously but evolves into a deeply moving exchange.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri approaches cinematic perfection. The casting choices, cinematography, set design, and direction are all flawlessly executed. The sole detractor preventing a perfect score is a particularly brutal assault depicted in the film, the aftermath of which lacks the realistic consequences one would expect. However, this minor flaw aside, the film is an exceptional work of art. It is a captivating, humorous, melancholic, surprising, and dramatic experience that I wholeheartedly recommend.
