This film has such a long unwieldy title which may puzzle moviegoers. However, with all the critical acclaim this film received since its debut, as well as all the awards and citations it had gained over the past three months, this is a film that simply cannot be ignored. It had just gained 7 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Actress, two Supporting Actors, Original Score and Film Editing.
It had been seven months since Angela Hayes had been raped and murdered. Up to now, there had yet been no leads on the perpetrator of the crime. Desperate and angry, her mother Mildred rented three unused billboards outside their town to express her frustration, calling out police chief Bill Willoughby for his apparent inaction about Angela's case. Mildred's bold move earned the ire of her neighbors, especially the police -- officer Jason Dixon in particular. Mildred did not care and insisted on her call for justice.
The search for elusive justice can sometimes lead people to do the craziest things, and Mildred Hayes really went the whole nine yards on this. Frances McDormand really squeezed everything out of this character, there is really nothing any other actress could have done for this role to make it better. People who have seen McDormand act know how deadpan her face can be, yet it was always a wonder how it could be so effectively expressive at the same time -- it was amazing to watch. She is my bet to win Best Actress come Oscar time this year, her second since winning for "Fargo" in 1996.
I have to admit that Sam Rockwell is not an actor I liked. This was ever since I saw him give a lousy lead performance in that terrible mess of a film called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (2005). When I recognized him in this as the racist, impulsive, over-the-top violent policeman Jason Dixon, I was prepared to hate his character all the way. However, Rockwell actually had me changing my mind about him, the way he rode the wave of this character's interesting and eventful arc. I can't believe I am saying this, but I think he might just go home with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor this year.
Woody Harrelson played the embattled though well-loved Police Chief Willoughby. He knew Rockwell had the showier role, so Harrelson had the right sense to play his character with restraint and composure. This made his character very enigmatic and sympathetic. This wise approach also led to his surprise third Oscar nomination for his supporting performance here. His previous Oscar nominations were for Best Actor in "The People vs. Larry Flynt" (1996) and Best Supporting Actor in "The Messenger" (2010).
I had heard of Martin McDonagh before as a playwright. I had seen a locally staged and adapted production of one of his plays entitled "The Pilllowman" (MY REVIEW). That play tackled a very disturbing topic about child murders. in 2009, I had also seen one of McDonagh's previous films called "In Bruges" (MY REVIEW). These works, including this new one, really affirmed Martin McDonagh's skill with black comedy.
How McDonagh wrote and directed his story for the big screen is nothing short of outstanding. A black comedy is not always an easy movie to watch, but the way McDonagh crafted it with all those unexpected twists and turns really drew me in and kept me engaged. That is saying a lot, since ALL the major characters in this film were just so unlikable and unpleasant, no one really that you'd like to meet in real life -- however they were all so compellingly portrayed you could not stop watching them wreak hate on that screen.
Out of the seven Oscar nominations it earned. I am betting on "Three Billboards" to win at least four. Martin McDonagh should win the Oscar for Original Screenplay, especially since it was very surprising that he was snubbed for Best Director. Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell should win for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively, like they won the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild awards. And so far, I am betting on "Three Billboards" to win the biggest Oscar prize -- Best Picture! 9/10.
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