Film Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Guildford Odeon

Published on: 19 Jan, 2018
Updated on: 18 Jan, 2018

By Dennis Harvey-Hepherd

Three Billboards is an intriguing tale about a mother unable to come to terms with the murder of her daughter and the failure of the local police to solve the crime.

We are given a brief history of the offence and the events surrounding it but, the core story is about a mothers drive for justice and what that costs her and her remaining family. The title refers to the method she chooses to put a firework under the local sheriff after seven months of apparent inaction.

Casual violence and abuse of authority punctuates the various intertwined family histories to give a grim picture of modern day life in the southern United States. In addition to the violence, life in rural Missouri is depicted as being dominated by racial and gender hatred, abuse of power and ignorance.

The performances throughout this film are very believable. The three lead actors, Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell, will be recognised from their previous films and television roles but their combined performances are so good you totally see them as the characters.

By the end of the film there is redemption for some and sadness for others. Nobody leaves this tale unscarred by the events.

A remarkable and enjoyable film, worth 5 out of five stars.