Tag: Three Billboards

REVIEW: The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Brendon Gleeson and Colin Farrell’s characters at the pub in Martin McDonagh’s latest hit THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN — PHOTO: Searchlight Pictures.

Directed by Martin McDonagh — Screenplay by Martin McDonagh.

By now, Martin McDonagh, a long-time celebrated British-Irish playwright, has established himself as a brilliant writer-director with a home in the dark comedy genre. His Oscar-winning short Six Shooter, as well as his equally excellent first two features In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, set up his name as one to keep an eye on as a filmmaker. With Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, McDonagh had a genuine awards frontrunner, and that extra spotlight, or magnifying glass, revealed a far more divisive and controversial film than the 7 Oscar nominations (and excellent Rotten Tomatoes score) may have made general audiences suspect. I’ve enjoyed all of McDonagh’s films, including Six Shooter, but Three Billboards didn’t land as well for me as In Bruges or Seven Psychopaths had. Therefore it makes me happy to say that The Banshees of Inisherin, his latest film, is a return to form and arguably as good as, if not better than, In Bruges. 

Continue reading “REVIEW: The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)” →

30 Things 2017 Taught Cinephiles, Critics, and the Industry – Special Features #18

In true Jedi Master-fashion, every year in film provides us with lessons and guides that form trends and a changing landscape in the filmmaking industry. 2017 was a great year for film, and today I want to talk about the lessons that I will remember 2017 for. Continue reading “30 Things 2017 Taught Cinephiles, Critics, and the Industry – Special Features #18” →

Final 90th Academy Awards Predictions: Winners – Special Features #17

This is it. Here we are. This Sunday, the 90th Academy Awards will be held. They’ll laugh about the La La Land–Moonlight mess, maybe they’ll even invite the presenters and the producers of both films onto the stage for some kind of joke. Streaks will be broken, there will be bad decisions, good decisions, and decisions that will look idiotic years from now. That’s the Oscars. That’s all a part of the game. Being that it is this close, it is finally time for me to reveal my final Oscar predictions for this awards season. Who will win? Who will lose? What would I have voted for? Let’s dive right in with the first categories. Continue reading “Final 90th Academy Awards Predictions: Winners – Special Features #17” →

Reaction to the Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards – Special Features #15

I made my predictions, I was ready to watch the nomination announcement, and I gave my live-reactions on Twitter. But I’ve got more to say, and I’ll do that here in this week’s Special Features. Let’s talk about the nominations for the 90th Academy Awards! Continue reading “Reaction to the Nominations for the 90th Academy Awards – Special Features #15” →

REVIEW: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Theatrical Release Poster – Fox Searchlight Pictures

The following is a review of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Written and Directed by Martin McDonagh

To say that you’ve seen Martin McDonagh’s entire filmography isn’t all that impressive. The Irish playwright’s filmography only includes his excellent Oscar-winning short film Six Shooter and now three feature films. But in these few films McDonagh has already established some trademark elements that are always in his films. Unstable and impulsive male characters that are often marked by their previous misdeeds, some kind of stable mentor or friend to the impulsive male, lots and lots of curse words, oh and he’s a big fan of joking about little people. Continue reading “REVIEW: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)” →

Early Best Actress Predictions – Special Features #5

Same procedure as last week, folks! This week, I am taking a look at the Best Actress category at the forthcoming Oscars. Are Emma Stone, Kate Winslet, or the legend that is Meryl Streep getting another golden statue, or will someone new get to finally give a speech with an Oscar in-hand? Continue reading “Early Best Actress Predictions – Special Features #5” →