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'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' is sensational yet deeply spooky

With a storyline that would bring tears to most people’s eyes, combined with across the board hair- raising acting - including roles big and small - “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” recounts a mother’s monumental grief regarding her daughter, as well as many deeply complicated subplots, involving discrimination and heavy family themes.

This film’s writer and director have the audience on the edge of their seats throughout this harrowing tale - each character drawing the audience further into the tangled web. Frances McDormand's (as the mom) gritty, sorrow-filled and, at times, seemingly soulless portrayal, dwarfs viewers into shock - delivering nothing short of a deserving best actress nod, if not award. It ranks as one of the greatest performances ever.

Bad language and graphic violence are a drawback and hard to take - particularly the language early on in the film. Nevertheless, scene after scene of scintillating and extremely eerie and edgy verbal exchanges, as well as seemingly incomprehensible developments, thrust this film into a state of darkness that is nearly paralyzing.

Supporting performances by Woody Harrelson (as Chief of Police) and Sam Rockwell (his racist and inept employee) are equally daunting; the writer evoking pendulum like swings in viewers' thoughts and emotions toward each and every character. Multiple other small character roles - in fact, every other one that I can think of - left equally significant marks, making this as finely woven a piece of work as one could imagine.

Moments of great humor are, somehow, miraculously mixed in, though these can not thaw the chilling environment that has already been embedded in the air - the underlying, boulder-like weight of the story, still looming to quell such levity.

Many of the greatest movies ever made are dark, but in the end the pervasive and unprecedented color of this film make it hard to love unequivocally. You know a film has totally eclipsed the sunlight when the central person garnering everyone’s empathy, at least initially, ends up being a nemesis of sorts as the story evolves. While clearly filled with extreme grief and justified anger, is seeking resolution and answers at any cost to society’s laws acceptable?

This film is an ice-filled look at individuals, traveling many complex paths and detailing all types of mis-steps as well as revelations. The story’s focus seems to be a search for answers, but not necessarily peace - as that is a concept that appears completely elusive in this film.

As debilitatingly dark, and hard to stomach, as this story is, the acting, character substance, and the seamless way the story is spun - including the ending - makes this one of the most thought provoking movies in recent times. It is well worth seeing and a definitive top pick for many Oscar nods.

**** ½ /*****

 

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