Missouri Tiger.
115 Mins. Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes, Caleb Landry Jones, Lucas Hedges, Zeljko Ivanek, Clarke Peters, Abbie Cornish & Peter Dinklage. Director: Martin McDonagh.
First Billboard: "Raped Whilst Dying". Beyond brutal, but by jove is 'Billboards' brilliant. 'Fargo's' Frances McDormand is a molotov cocktail of a force amongst a farce in 'In Bruges' and 'Seven Psychopaths' director Martin McDonagh's 'Three Billboards'. A modern masterpiece of the year that is as oddly hilarious as it is assumingly heartbreaking. Such is the ebb and flow of this charred black comedy and dynamite drama spark is going to leave as many people wanting to visit Ebbing, Missouri as McDonagh did Belgium's Bruges. And just like that offbeat, outstanding shot of isolated but inspired dark dramedy that saw Colin Farrell's forlorn, suicidal hitman gain peculiarly both our sympathy and praise. This billboard puncuated picture is chock full of characters with as many heavens gate saving graces as they have hell to pay flaws they fall through again and again like that old, creaking floorboard you should always have repaired, if not fixed to step over. But frankly not Frances. McDormand is dormant in that department. Alive despite being soul broken dead inside following the evil assault and death of her daughter. She ties her hair up as folically far as it will go north, pulls on some blue overalls all the way to her collar and crack of a new dawn gets to work on finding the man who murdered her baby girl. And seeing as Ebbing, Missouri's local police department would rather investigate a case of Krispy Kreme's than a young woman's ravaged rape, torture and murder, she more than sprinkles them with some truth. She pepper sprays them in a way none of their coffees with extra sugar could wake them. Firebrand papering some previous derelict pop art torn billboards of various commercials past with a scarlet letter so rage raw red it engulfs all blue and white police cruisers that patrol past like the very sirens they should be putting on. Just give the Cohen 'Raising Arizona', 'Burn After Reading' and 'Hail Caesar' triple crown actress the Academy Award already. Even if Oscar queen Meryl Streep is about to 'Post' her latest ballot and next, best actress of the moment Jessica Chastain has given a big-three of her best last year all worthy of a nomination ('The Zookeepers Wife', 'Miss Sloane' and 'Molly's Game'). As McDormand and McDonagh (reuniting with almost as many 'Seven Psychopath' players (Harrelson, Rockwell, Ivanek and Cornish)) give us an instant classic that will legacy last beyond any award season for their billboard moment.
Second Billboard: "And Still No Arrests"? And whose fault is that? Well according to the police report, Chief Woody and his partner so buzzed he's lightyears away from that detective detail he craves as much as the heroes in his comics he'd love to be if only he could get his feet off the desk and his badge pinned on his shirt properly. Or as they more commonly go by in the Hollywood industry Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell. Two former platinum character actors turned leading men with definitive distinction. Who despite the character problems here in the middle may act like they might actually come good when it comes to a different sort of Academy. And boy do they have the best lines here to deliver this. 'Cheers' Norm familiar face Woody may have shown us that 'White Men Can't Jump' whilst earning his jersey name in the franchise likes of the sequel leaden 'Hunger Games' and 'Now You See Me' magic series'. But here yet again this 'Natural Born Killer' shows us he is a 'True Detective', whether 'Triple 9' call or 'Rampart' corruption. Even balding under the 'No Country For Old Men' cameo stetson that had you moving your feet, Woody still balls like Billy Hoyle. It's not a case of 'The People vs Larry Flynt' but the billboards versus Chief Willoughby. And after proving he was the best human actor alongside Andy Serkis' motion captured white dots to the 'War For The Planet Of The Apes' conclusion to Ceasar's trilogy, cut-throat razor shaving his dome, Woody is a cut above all that here in his sharpest slice yet. But just wait until 'Psychopath' Rockwell rocks too, shooting for the moon and whoever's willing to stand up to him and call him a racist pig like we all see it. How the man who can play both slick ('Iron Man 2') and sick ('The Green Mile') can mine likes out of such a morally abhorrent character is unbelievably almost akin to how some of these f### boys can do so on social media. But despite the douches and fake celebrities that bag up the real world, this here is a testament to this great actors real reputation for versatility that he has hard worked earned in a Hollywood that needs its sleeves rolled all the way up. Still, no one plays disgustingly distinguished quite like this big I am Sam. And if he doesn't get at least a nomination for his repugnant cop you can only hope sees redemption policing, than the Academy needs to look past the crass character and view the class act behind those red and dead eye hiding aviators.
Third Billboard: "How Come Chief Willoughy"? That's what everyone is picket punching asking by the sign in this role call, All-Star cast of role playing character actors on their collective career highs. As Martin makes his mark by bringing the best and worst out of everyone in this harrowing yet heartfelt, guffawed but grotesque picture of duality...as such is life. What more can you expect when the skinny on 'Winter's Bone' standout John Hawkes who is practically in every other film you've ever seen (don't believe us trapse Wikipedia) is at his best and worst here as an ex, expected to be atypical, but with some other reaffirming traits too. Then there's 'Manchester By The Sea' supporting player Lucas Hedges who never got the same from the Academy like Affleck, but hopefully will with 'Lady Bird' or with a stones throw here. The kids the future like former 'First Class', X-Men academy actor Caleb Landry Jones who owned his moments in last years horror favourite 'Get Out' and Tom Cruise 'American Made' movie, but is close to his own one now after never being better than right here, right now. Then there's 'X-Men: Apocalypse' and of course 'In Bruges' actor Zeljko Ivanek known for 'Damages' and 'Madame Secretary', showing great and recognisable character, copping a duty behind the desk. With new, smooth rolling detective in town Clarke Peters bringing his 'Person Of Interest' and 'The Wire' credits behind his badge, along with the velvet voice to rival Morgan Freeman's beautiful baritone. Even Bradley Cooper's 'Limitless' love interest and co-star Abbie Cornish is here to show the cast is exactly that like the Australian actresses accented range. And how about Mr. Lannister himself? As 'Game Of Thrones' standout Peter Dinklage may look like a mix of his characters from 'Elf' and 'X-Men: Days Of Future' past here, but he really brings some of the best and brightest moments too in a dinner date and drink after worth of screen time. There really is so much going on here in McDonagh's movie that will leave you crying with laughter and horror. But in a contrasting, heads and tails movie there is one fact that leaves no sides for debate. This leaves everything else out right now outside. Aside from a C.G.I. deer that still makes for a dearly beautiful scene this thing is flawless. And has the most beautiful use of the "C U Next Tuesday" word this side of the blades of Margot Robbie's 'I, Tonya' glory. 'Three Billboards Outside, Ebbing Missouri'...now that's a lot to read. Especially over three advertising hoardings. But by the 'Moonlight' of mid-February in 'La La Land' you'll be damn sure it'll be wrote in an envelope sealed, 'Best Picture'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Fargo', 'In Bruges', 'Rampart'.
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