Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is the story of a woman who rents three billboards to bring attention into why the local police haven’t made any effort into finding out who killed her daughter. It’s a film that explores a small town unraveled by a woman’s need for justice where its chief wants to help but is dealing with personal matters prompting his deputy to cause a lot of trouble. Starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, John Hawkes, Peter Dinklage, Abbie Cornish, and Sam Rockwell. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a visceral and eerie film from Martin McDonagh.

A young woman had been raped and killed outside a small town in Missouri as her mother becomes consumed with guilt and rage as the investigation hasn’t gone anywhere prompting her to rent three billboards outside of the home that asks its local police chief why hasn’t there been any arrests. The film is about these three billboards which has caused a lot of trouble for this small town in Missouri as its police chief is dealing with the fact that he’s dying from cancer despite the fact that he does want to help. Yet, there are those who are angered by the billboards including a deputy who acts out by causing all sorts of trouble unaware of what he’s supposed to do for the town. Martin McDonagh’s screenplay doesn’t just explore this small town rocked by a murder only to be more unhinged when Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) decides to rent these three billboards outside of a town that is on her way home where it reads the following message in sequential form: “Raped while dying”, “And still no arrests”, and “How come, Chief Willoughby?”

While Chief Bill Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) is upset over the billboards, he does understand Mildred’s anger as he is still unable to get a break over the murder of Mildred’s daughter Angela (Kathryn Newton). Adding to his trouble is the fact that he’s diagnosed with cancer as he’s become more concerned with his wife Anne (Abbie Cornish) and his two daughters. Though he tries to continue his job as well as find any clues with Angela’s murder with Deputy Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell) helping him despite the fact that he doesn’t like Mildred nor does he do what is right by the law as he is prejudiced and takes the law into his own hands. One of McDonagh’s key aspects of the script isn’t just the structure and this exploration for peace and justice in a small town. It’s also in the development of the characters as both Mildred and Chief Willoughby are individuals want some idea of justice as the first two acts revolve around both of them with the former being a single mother with a teenage son in Robbie (Lucas Hedges) as she also has a contentious relationship with her ex-husband Charlie (John Hawkes).

Then there’s Dixon who is this mama’s boy that is very hot-headed and eager to succeed in the force but is also a dimwit who prefers to read comic books and listen to music on his earphones than do his job. There are people in the force who would question why Willoughby would keep him on the job as it would be unveiled in the third act where it play into Dixon’s development as a character. Especially as he would find his true calling that would give him a sense of purpose as well as give some kind of hope and peace to Mildred and Chief Willoughby.

McDonagh’s direction is definitely evocative in terms of the imagery he creates where it is shot mainly in Sylvia, North Carolina as this small town of Ebbing, Missouri with its usage of mountains and routes with certain curves on the road. Yet, there is this one location of these three abandoned billboards that would be at the center of the film as they would appear constantly whether it’s in a wide shot or in a close-up. Since the billboards are below a hill where Mildred can see hit from her house, it is placed in an area outside of town where it would get a lot of attention where McDonagh’s would showcase how some would react to these billboards. Notably Chief Willoughby and Dixon who would see these billboards as it just add to their reaction whether it’s serious or comical. The humor in the film does have an aspect of darkness but also in the way Mildred deals with people including a local priest as she puts him in his place.

McDonagh would also use close-ups and medium shots to get an intimate look into the lives of the characters in the film as he would show what they’re like as Mildred is just a woman who works in a shop that is just consumed with grief and anger as she lives with her teenage son. Chief Willoughby lives in a farm with his family while living in the small town is Dixon with his mother as they all have different lives and personalities yet are part of this very diverse community that is coming apart by Mildred’s actions. Even in some of the moments that involve arson and violence with the latter coming from Dixon as he beats up a local advertising agent. It’s a gruesome scene but it play into the sense of loss that Dixon is dealing with and his inability to control himself as he would later find that control during a tense meeting with a man at a bar. It’s a moment that shows that despite many of Dixon’s flaws, there is still a man that is just trying to do good for his community. Even in a world where justice is hard to come by for a woman just wanting peace for her daughter and those who had suffered through this murder. Overall, McDonagh crafts a mesmerizing yet gripping film about a woman calling attention for justice for her daughter’s rape and murder.

Cinematographer Ben Davis does brilliant work with the film’s cinematography from the usage of low-key lights and such for many of the scenes set at night to a more naturalistic look for the interior/exterior scenes set in the day. Editor Jon Gregory does excellent work with the editing as it is straightforward with some rhythmic cuts to play into the drama and suspense. Production designer Inbal Weinberg, with set decorator Merissa Lombardo and art director Jesse Rosenthal, does fantastic work with the look of some of the locations including the police precinct building and the look of the billboards. Costume designer Melissa Toth does nice work with the costumes as it is mostly casual including the uniforms Chief Willoughby and his team wear.

Special makeup effects designer Leo Corey Castellano does terrific work with the look of a character late in the film as it play to escalation of tension in the film. Visual effects supervisor Tyler Gooden does wonderful work with the visual effects as it is mainly based on scenes involving fire. Sound editor Joakim Sundstrom does superb work with the sound with the way some of the scenes in the small town occurs as well as some of the film’s violent moments. The film’s music by Carter Burwell is incredible for its mixture of low-key orchestral music with some country textures to play into the location of where the film is set while music supervisor Karen Elliott provides a fun and offbeat soundtrack that include music from ABBA, the Four Tops, and a mixture of music genres ranging from folk, country, rock, and classical music.

The casting by Sarah Finn is marvelous as it feature some notable small roles from Amanda Warren as Mildred’s friend/co-worker Denise, Darrell Britt-Gibson as a billboard painter who helps Mildred in posting the ads, Kerry Condon as the advertising agent secretary Pamela, Clarke Peters as a man who would come at the film’s second half to take charge of the investigation, Nick Searcy as the local priest who tries to help Mildred only to get a lashing about what he does, Christopher Berry as a mysterious visitor of the town, Sandy Martin as Dixon’s mother who is also prejudiced, Zeljko Ivanek as the precinct desk sergeant Cedric Connolly, Samara Weaving as Charlie’s dim-witted 19-year old girlfriend Penelope, Riya May Atwood and Selah Atwood as Chief Willoughby’s daughters, and Kathryn Newton as Mildred’s daughter Angela in a lone flashback scene on the night she was to be killed. Caleb Landry Jones is terrific as the billboard advertising agent Red Welby who takes Mildred’s money to post the ads where he would later get himself into serious trouble with Dixon.

Lucas Hedges is superb as Mildred’s son Robbie who is dealing with the action of his mother as he considers moving in with his father as he also realizes the need for justice. Peter Dinklage is fantastic as James as a local who is a friend of Mildred as he would help get out of trouble during the film’s third act as a way to give her something she didn’t have in her marriage to Charlie. John Hawkes is excellent as Mildred’s ex-husband Charlie who had been abusive to her as he feels that her action with the billboards have done nothing but bring trouble. Abbie Cornish is brilliant as Willoughby’s wife Anne who is dealing with her husband’s illness as well as the impact of the billboards where she does meet with Mildred in a scene during the second act as it play into the injustice that everyone is dealing with.

Sam Rockwell is incredible as Jason Dixon as a police deputy that is this odd mixture of someone who is ignorant and is willing to do something stupid but there’s also a good person in there where Rockwell toes the line between being profane and being decent where he later goes through a transformation of sorts in the third act where he realizes what needs to be done. Woody Harrelson is remarkable as Chief Bill Willoughby as a local police chief who is the target of Mildred’s billboards as he is aware of what he needs to do but he’s also dealing with his own illness as it’s a role that displays some humility but also some dignity. Finally, there’s Frances McDormand in a phenomenal performance as Mildred Hayes as a woman who is consumed with grief and guilt over the loss of her daughter as she rents three billboards to get attention and justice for her daughter as it’s a role of anguish, rage, and humor in which McDormand just seizes every ounce of energy and anger into her role while displaying this I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude about a world that is dark while clinging to some idea of hope.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a tremendous film from Martin McDonagh. Featuring a great ensemble cast, beautiful locations, an offbeat music soundtrack, and themes about justice and the need for action in a world that doesn’t get anything done. It’s a film that showcases what some will do in a call for action but also to make sense in a world of injustice where there are those that want to do what is right no matter how complicated the world can be. In the end, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a magnificent film from Martin McDonagh.

Martin McDonagh Films: (Six Shooter) – In Bruges - Seven Psychopaths

© thevoid99 2017

Seven Psychopaths

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Seven Psychopaths is the story of a struggling screenwriter who teams up with his best friend and another man to steal dogs only to realize they’ve stolen the dog of a troubled gangster. The three men deal with all sorts of trouble as they try to return the dog to the gangster. The film is a dark comedy that revolves around mistakes and mayhem as a writer seeks inspiration for his movie. Starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Olga Kurylenko, Abbie Cornish, Zeljko Ivanek, Gabourey Sidibe, Kevin Corrigan, and Tom Waits. Seven Psychopaths is a witty yet off-the-wall dark comedy from Martin McDonagh.

Struggling to write a new screenplay called Seven Psychopaths, Marty Faranan (Colin Farrell) is trying to come up with ideas as he’s dealing with writer’s block and lack of inspiration. Helping him is his friend Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell) who often spouts lots of ideas for Marty to use as Billy spends his time kidnapping dogs with his friend Hans (Christopher Walken). One of the dogs Billy and Hans get is a Shih Tzu that belonged to the gangster Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson) as Billy decides to keep the dog for himself. Aware that Costello is deranged and is willing to kill at any length to get his dog back while there’s a psychopath killing low-level mobsters.

Marty, Billy, and Hans go on the run to hide from Billy and his hoodlums where Marty gets ideas for his story while learning more about the world of psychopaths that included a man he previously met named Zachariah Rigby (Tom Waits). Hiding at the desert, Marty gets more ideas while struggling with his alcoholism where he learns more about what is going on as Billy has a crazy idea for the ending that involves a showdown with Costello.

Anyone who knows about the art of writing knows that inspiration is hard to come by as the film is about a man trying to write a story about psychopaths that is different from the world of crime movies. Yet, he would end up meeting a slew of crazy characters that would be inspirational to him while taking part in a scheme that goes all wrong when it involves a gangster who is completely edgy and is willing to do anything to get his dog back. Mayhem ensues when these three men try to figure out how to deal with this unhinged gangster as more surprises are unveiled about the people the writer has been hanging out with.

Martin McDonagh’s screenplay definitely has a flair of snappy dialogue, absurd situations, and multiple stories that revolves around psychopaths as it begins with two hitmen (Michael Stuhlbarg and Michael Pitt) talking about killing someone and all things go to shit when the first psychopath is introduced. It’s part of McDonagh’s scheme to introduce a slew of psychopaths as it includes Vietnamese man (Long Nguyen) seeking vengeance against the Americans over the Vietnam War. Throughout the film, there’s scenes where it plays to Marty’s attempt to write the screenplay as there’s lots of fantasy scenes that plays to the idea of trying to write a screenplay. Even as it involves all sorts of character twists and such that plays to that world of the writer. The one flaw in the script is the way some of the female characters are presented like Marty’s girlfriend Kaya (Abbie Cornish) and Costello’s girlfriend/Billy’s mistress Angela (Olga Kurylenko) as they don’t really get much to do at all with the story.

McDonagh’s direction is quite straightforward in terms of presenting the mind of a writer as Marty is this uninspired writer who likes to drink a lot and hang around with his oddball buddies. Shot on location in Los Angeles and other parts nearby, it is a film that revolves around this strange criminal underworld that features a lot of strange and dark violent scenes. The violence is very brutal in the presentation as it plays to not just the fantasy of violence but also the grim reality. McDonagh does create some wonderful compositions and framing to display the world or the characters in their situations that includes some fantasy scenes or offbeat flashback scenes. Overall, McDonagh creates a fun yet very unconventional black comedy that explores the world of writing and psychopaths.

Cinematographer Ben Davis does nice work with the film‘s cinematography to capture the beauty of the locations in Los Angeles as well as the locations at the Joshua Tree Park. Editor Lisa Gunning does superb work with the editing by creating montages in the film‘s flashbacks and fantasy scenes along with some stylish cuts in some of those moments. Production designer David Wasco, along with set decorator Sandy Reynolds-Wasco and art director John Dexter, does some fantastic work with the sets such as the home that Billy lives in to the dog shelter he and Hans run.

Costume designer Karen Patch does terrific work with the costumes from the clothes the men wear to the more stylish clothes that Kaya wears. Sound editor Joakim Sundstrom does some wonderful work with the sound to capture the atmosphere of the locations along with the intimate moments involving a few characters. The film’s music by Carter Burwell is brilliant for its low-key, jazz-driven score to play up the film‘s dark humor. Music supervisor Matt Biffa is filled with a lot of songs from the 60s and 70s to play out the world the characters inhabit.

The casting by Sarah Finn is great for the ensemble that is created as it features some cameo appearances from Harry Dean Stanton as a mysterious psychopath, Michael Pitt and Michael Stuhlbarg as a couple of mob hitmen in the beginning of the film, Kevin Corrigan and Zeljko Ivanek as a couple of Costello’s henchmen, Long Nguyen as a Vietnamese psychopath, Brendan Sexton III as the young Zachariah, Gabourey Sidibe as the dog’s original caretaker Sharice, and Linda Bright Clay as Hans’ wife Myra. Abbie Cornish and Olga Kurylenko are quite good in their respective roles as Marty’s girlfriend Kaya and Costello’s girlfriend Angela though neither of them really get a lot of development nor any big moments for them to really stand out. Tom Waits is superb as the mysterious Zachariah who has this amazing scene where he tells a story about his notorious killings.

Woody Harrelson is brilliant as the deranged Charlie Costello who is determined to get his dog back as Harrelson brings a dark humor to the character who is also an emotional mess. Christopher Walken is fantastic as Hans who is a man with a dark past as he tries to deal with a situation while providing some very funny ideas to Marty. Sam Rockwell is outstanding as the very offbeat Billy who spouts all sorts of ideas to Marty while doing all sorts of crazy things as it’s Rockwell at his finest. Finally, there’s Colin Farrell in an excellent performance as the troubled Marty who is trying to come up with a great script as he deals with his alcoholism, his bitchy girlfriend, and all of the violence that is happening around him as it’s a very funny performance from Farrell.

Seven Psychopaths is a marvelous film from Martin McDonagh that features top-notch performances from Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, and Woody Harrelson. The film is definitely an intriguing piece into the world of writing as well a darkly-comic look into the world of the psychopaths. Notably in the latter as it shows the absurdity of murder and crime as well as what some people are willing to do to create the ultimate story. In the end, Seven Psychopaths is a remarkable film from Martin McDonagh.

Martin McDonagh Films: (Six Shooter) - In Bruges - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

© thevoid99 2012

In Bruges

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 1/10/09 w/ Additional Edits.

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, In Bruges is a black comedy about two hitmen hiding out in the Belgian city of Bruges. Awaiting for their next assignment following one where the younger hitman accidentally killed someone, they encounter the town's various sites while meeting an attractive drug dealer, a racist dwarf, and other crazy locals. The film is a study of morality, redemption, and guilt all told with dark humor and gangster-style violence. Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Clemence Poesy, Jordan Prentice, Thekla Reuten, Jeremie Renier, and Ralph Fiennes. In Bruges is a witty, dark, yet entertaining feature-film debut from the renowned Irish playwright.

After a hit that went bad despite the target being hit, Ken (Brendan Gleeson) and Ray (Colin Farrell) are ordered by their boss Harry (Ralph Fiennes) to hide out in the small, medieval Belgian city of Bruges. For the young Ray, hiding out in Bruges for two weeks to wait for Ray's orders seems like a bad idea. With Ken enamored with the city's medieval sites, castles, and such, Ray is extremely bored as all he wants to do is drink beer at the pub. Yet, Ray is also dealing with a guilty conscience over an accident he caused in his first hit despite killing his target. During a night of sightseeing, Ken and Ray stumble onto a film set starring a dwarf named Jimmy (Jordan Prentice) that Ray seems amused by while catching the eye of a very pretty production assistant named Chloe (Clemence Poesy).

After meeting Chloe and going on a date with her the next night, Ray feels good though he reluctantly takes part in another round of sightseeing. Ken meanwhile, gets a message from Harry about a phone call that Ken should receive. Ray and Chloe go on a date later that night where Chloe reveals herself to be a drug dealer as Ray later gets into a scuffle with a Canadian couple. Ken stays at his hotel room at night where he gets a call from Harry about some instructions that proves to be disturbing. Ray later gets into another scuffle with an ex-boyfriend of Chloe named Eirik (Jeremie Renier) who was trying to rob Ray only to get shot in the eye with a blank bullet. Ray and Ken later meet at a pub where Ray had scored some drugs where they meet with Jimmy and a couple of hookers. A night of partying where Jimmy is revealed to be a racist turned out to be troubling.

The next morning, Ken leaves his room to meet with a gun smuggler (Eric Godon) to go on his assignment but after getting a message from Ray from the hotel's pregnant manager Marie (Thekla Reuten). Ken tries to find Ray who was about to do something as Ken realizes that Ray is in trouble. With Ray sent away to whereabouts unknown, Ken calls Harry about what happened leaving Harry enraged and going to Bruges. Ray however, due to his scuffle with the Canadian couple, is sent back to Bruges. When Harry arrives Bruges to confront Ken, the two talk about principles leaving Ken in a moral dilemma about what Ray had done. When Eirik spots Ray with Chloe, all hell breaks loose forcing Ray to fend for himself with Ken making a decision about what to do for himself and Ray.

The film is about a young man dealing with the guilt over an accidental killing as he and his partner are forced to hide out in a place that no person would want to hide out. That place turns to be in Bruges. For the character of Ray, Bruges is a place that seems like the last place on Earth to hide out in with nothing to do but go sightseeing and heckle fat American tourists. Ken meanwhile, Bruges seems like a place to escape and just soak up the beauty of the place as he's been a hitman for so long that he needs something different. Yet, the two men deal with their roles as hitmen and the morality they often face with that role over killing people. When they're forced to face their boss, a man with more extreme principles, both Ken and Ray each have to deal with the consequences knowing what they might have to face.

Writer/director Martin McDonagh creates a film that is mostly dramatic but also filled with lots of humor due to its dialogue and a few characters that are very off the wall. While some audiences might be confused in what the film is trying to be, a black comedy or an existential crime drama. McDonagh does create a film that is filled with lots of rhythm, lots of humor, real drama, and moral themes in his script that is supported by lots of catchy dialogue. Particularly from the character of Jimmy, a racist midget who claims the war to end all wars will be a race war while revealing which side midgets are on. McDonagh's direction is definitely stylish with uses of hand-held cameras to follow the characters around along with tracking shots for other scenes. Yet, the location of Bruges makes it an inspiring place with McDonagh's direction creating a tourist-like feel of the place while getting the audience to be entranced by the beauty that is Bruges. The result is a well-made, stylish feature-film debut from Martin McDonagh.

Cinematographer Eigil Bryld does excellent work with the film's cinematography capturing the beauty nighttime look of Bruges with its yellowish light colors matching against the castles and buildings. The interior looks also are well-lit to convey the intimacy of the places like the bars and restaurants as Bryld does some fine work. Editor Jon Gregory does fantastic work to create a sense of rhythm to match up with the film's dialogue and smooth transitions while an entire phone conversation between Ken and Harry is done in one take with Gregory and McDonagh not cutting all of the drama that goes on. Production designer Michael Carlin along with set decorator Anna Lynch-Robinson and art director Chris Lowe do excellent work in the look of the film's interior setting like the gun smuggler's home, Jimmy's hotel room, and the outside restaurants of Bruge.

Costume designer Jany Temime does wonderful work with the suits that Ken and Harry wear along with the clothes that Ray wears to give them a hitman like look with the elder actors in more professional clothing and Ray more contemporary clothes. Sound editor Julian Slater does an excellent job with the sound in capturing the location of Bruges in all of its tourist-like feel and sense of action that goes on the film's third act. The film's plaintive, melancholic piano-driven music is by Carter Burwell, a known collaborator for the Coen Brothers, as he creates music to play up to the mood of Ken and Ray along with some intense pieces for the climatic standoff between Ray and Harry. The film's soundtrack includes tracks from Townes Van Zandt, the Walkmen, the Dubliners, the Pretenders, and Regina Spektor that's played throughout the film.

The casting by Jina Jay is truly superb with special appearances from Ciaran Hinds as the target that Ray and Ken were supposed to kill and Zjelko Ivanek as the Canadian guy who Ray beats up. Other memorable small roles like Mark Donovan as the overweight American tourist, Rudy Blomme as the ticket seller, and Eric Godon as the arms smuggler are very good. Thekla Reuten is excellent in her role as Marie, the pregnant hotel manager that Ray and Ken stays in while Jeremie Renier is very good as Eirik, Chloe's ex-boyfriend who tries to rob Ray only to get shot in the eye with a blank bullet. Jordan Prentice is wonderfully hilarious as Jimmy, a dwarf who is working on a movie as he tells very racist ideals about a race war and where the dwarfs would side on. Clemence Poesy, who is known by Harry Potter fans as Fleur Delacour in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, is excellent as Chloe. Poesy's charming, calm performance is enjoyable to watch as she is a young woman who likes to do bad things while being very attractive to a guy like Ray.

Ralph Fiennes is great as Harry Waters, the boss who ends up going to Bruges in the film's second half as Fiennes' appearance is filled with great one-liners and a Cockney accent. Fiennes clearly looks like he's having fun with the performance while getting the chance to be a real badass. The film's two best performances go to the duo of Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell. Gleeson, who is often known for supporting roles, is brilliant as the more experienced, older Ken as he comes to grips with his own sins while finding comfort in the world that is Bruges. It's a rare leading performance for Gleeson who finally gets the chance to carry a film while sharing the screen with Colin Farrell. Farrell delivers in what has to be his best performance to date after some misguided roles in several Hollywood features. In this film, Farrell gets to display his real acting talents both in comedy and drama as he exudes charm, sarcasm, guilt, and naivete as it proves that Colin Farrell is easily one of the best young actors out there working who deserves better work.

In Bruges is a witty, violent, and enjoyable feature-film debut film from Martin McDonagh. Fans of black comedies and drama will enjoy the film for its sense of style and themes while fans of Colin Farrell will get a chance to see the actor in one of his best performances. Along with a top-notch performance from Brendan Gleeson, it's a film that has lots of stylish dialogue and a sense of humor. While audiences might be put off by some of its violence and 126 F-bombs, it's definitely a film that is geared more for entertainment and character study. In the end, In Bruges is a witty film from Martin McDonagh that delivers in all of its humor, drama, and action.

Martin McDonagh Films: (Six Shooter) - Seven Psychopaths - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

© thevoid99 2011