Skip to main content

Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri - Movie Review

Posted by Anonymous on
Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri - Movie Review
Directed by Martin McDonagh
A gut wrenching, saddening and intense tale following the themes of murder, rape, revenge
and suicide that will have you on the edge of your seat for the entirety of the movie. This film
seamlessly combines raw realism with black comedic undertones so that the change between
a viewer bearing a sombre smile and a sweaty claw-like grip on their armrest is a frequent but
startling occasion. Yet, the movie manages to do this without being so abrupt as to take you out
of the action - an impressive feat in its own right. Moments of anger, hopelessness, terror, pity,
forgiveness and sorrow are intertwined within this magnificent one hundred and fifteen minute
masterpiece.

 The plot revolves around Mildred Hayes, who's teenage daughter (Angela) was raped and
murdered seven months prior to the events of the film. Due to a lack of progress made by the local
police department, Mildred decides to rent-out three derelict billboards that stand just outside her
hometown, Ebbing. These billboards read:
“RAPED WHILE DYING”
“AND STILL NO ARRESTS”
“HOW COME CHIEF WILLOUGHBY?”
Directed mainly at the police department’s chief - Bill Willoughby, the beginning of the story focuses
on Ebbing's reaction to these new messages and the effect they have on Mildred and those closest
to her.

 While the driving force of the film is the mystery behind Angela’s killer, the story’s underlying
message focuses on much more; race relations, police brutality, law enforcement, depression and
grief - allowing for an intriguing, nail-biting experience. This film has my full recommendation as it
portrays many current-day social issues while still retaining a riveting narrative that will have you
engaged right up until its final moments.      

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Image

Short Stories: WHERE IS DANIEL?

The time was an early morning in the winter of 1941. Falling snow packed onto the hard  labourers  of Gulag  10 WLA as they begin setting off into the mines and factories somewhere in the far east. Malnourished, mistreated and muddy, the inhabitors of this typical Gulag were kept under strict control of General Victor, who gave harsh punishments to any prisoner who dared riot or worse, insult the government.   It was a normal evening. The prisoners were escorted back to the Gulag through the freezing taiga by cattle carriages. They waited in line for their daily rations: Rubbery potatoes, dried bread and lime water. If one behaved well and boasted high production, he/she would sometimes be rewarded with a small knob of fresh corn, a snack the guards would gladly feast on. General Victor was feasting on a large chicken when Archie, or formally, Guard Number One burst into his room reporting misbehaviour between two prisoners. Ben (Guard Number Two) and Mile...
Image

Book Review - I Am Malala

This book - I Am Malala - is about Malala Yousafzai, who fought for the right of girl's education, when the Taliban took over Pakistan, Malala's home country. It was an autobiography novel, written by Malala herself with help from Patricia Mccormick and was written for teens. Malala was an ordinary girl living in Pakistan with her family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed school, which she did very well at. However, in Pakistan, women were restricted in what they could do and be seen doing and these worsened when the Taliban came when Malala was 10 years old. Even at this age, Malala did not like that women were treated so horribly. So she spoke out, but the Taliban did not like this. They took action and shot Malala on her school bus, she never got to and probably never will get to make that journey back home. The bullet was shot into Malala's head and narrowly avoided her brain, it took Malala several surgeries, physical therapy sessions and a flight halfway across the...

Short Story - Man From the South

The short story, Man From the South, written by Roald Dahl is about a short little, old man in a resort in Jamaica who likes to bet a lot. In this story it shows how an American Sailor is lured into his devious plot. While in Jamaica an American Sailor who was there having fun and on a training course sat next to the little man after coming out of a pool, he offered to light the little man's cigar with his lighter, that he claimed "never failed". After hearing this the little man couldn't resist betting against this, offering his car as his bet, if the sailor could light his lighter ten times without failing, if not the sailor owed him his left pinky.  Despite being warned not to proceed the sailor still decided to go through. The little man then lead the sailor and the narrator, (who in this case was acting as a referee) to his room in the hotel/resort, in this room he then requests a chopping knife from the woman attending him. As the little man receives the choppin...