I could tell you that I’d watched In Bruges once but I honestly couldn’t tell you what it was about, and don’t remember enjoying it if I’m honest, but could’ve just not been something I was feeling that day. Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri, I really enjoyed though, a film that has great performances and is very well written, which is what Martin McDonagh does best, something that I continued to hear about his latest project, The Banshees of Inisherin.
The Banshees of Inisherin sees Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly end his long friendship with Padraic Suilleabhan (Colin Farrell). As Padraic tries to find out why he has done this, Colm threatens to start injuring himself if he isn’t left alone.
Martin McDonagh is a fantastic writer, there is no denying that. My immediate comeaway from the film was how well written it was and that it is surely a guarantee for picking up at the very least a nomination at the Academy Awards in March for Best Original Screenplay (and probably has a strong chance of winning next to Everything Everywhere All at Once). The tone and humour is perfect with some strong direction, making this one of the strongest films of the year heading into award season, where McDonagh has a chance of picking up his second Oscar. Not every joke lands and sometimes the pacing feels dragged out and slightly longer than it needs, with not everything being fully explained.
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite after In Bruges, they are both incredible actors working as two of the best and consistent in the industry and their performances and chemistry in this film just proves that. Their performances are both seemingly effortless and have a high attention to detail adding small movements, gestures and looks that really sell their performance. It would be a travesty to have them both omitted from award season, something neither of them have been nominated for before (which feels a travesty itself).
Farrell and Gleeson are truly helped by supporting performances from Kerry Condon and Barry Keogh, who both add a lot to the film and help flesh out the island of Inisherin. Condon and Keogh don’t have loads of screentime but equally bring something different. Condon brings a much needed calm head and heart to the film and Keogh plays the village idiot but also with good intentions. Keogh is quickly making himself busing and putting himself in some of the most interesting and biggest films, only going from strength to strength with awards a certainty in his future.
Overall, The Banshees of Inisherin feels like one of the early contenders going into an award season which could be wide open for the taking (apart from The Fabelmans, which feels like the early favourite). Fantastic performances and writing make for a fantastic team up especially with a writer and cast as talented as this, however it won’t be for everyone.
What did you think of The Banshees of Inisherin?
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