This American drama with a slightly cumbersome name has just won Best Picture (drama) at the Golden Globes and I heartily endorse this! I haven't seen absolutely everything but I've seen plenty and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is my favourite of this awards season.
Frances McDormand is a knock-out lead in this film as Mildred, the grieving mother of a young woman who was raped and killed. Frustrated by the lack of action on the case some seven months after her daughter's death, Mildred rents three billboards to send a message to her local community that will have fascinating flow-on effects.
Mildred has a real brutality and strength about her which seem to be sharpened by her anger. Frances McDormand is perfect in the role and took out Best Actress (drama) at the Golden Globes for her trouble.
Mildred's crusade against authority, including Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) mentioned on the billboards, sets her on a collision course but there's so many unexpected twists and turns along the way that I never got comfortable watching this, I was constantly intrigued about what would happen next. Chief Willoughby is a great example of a character in this film who is full of surprises but so is fellow cop Jason Dixon who is played superbly* by Sam Rockwell who just won Best Supporting Actor (drama) at the Golden Globes.
It's not all serious drama though, there's actually some good chuckles in this film that help break up the otherwise serious nature of the story.
I reckon this four star review in News Ltd press is fair. Read it if you'd like to know more about the film but to be honest, I reckon this is actually one where it's good to go in not knowing much. I knew nothing about it when I saw it and was totally engrossed.
Trailer here. In cinemas now.
*You know when an actor is SO good at the role you just reckon that deep down they must actually be like that themselves? I mean, consider Michala Banas in Upper Middle Bogan. She does bogan SO well that I reckon she just must have bogan heritage! Same goes for Sam Rockwell as dumb cop Jason Dixon. It's just hard to imagine him as anything other than completely dopey in real life now!