Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Despite its long title, Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri has garnered serious attention at the festivals it has been screened at, from TIFF to London Film Festival, and rightly so. Martin McDonagh already has some excellent directorial credits behind him, such as In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, but this may well be his finest work.

The film follows a mother, Mildred Hayes played by the fantastic Frances McDormand (who delivers a taut and emotive performance worthy of an Oscar), grieving the murder of her daughter. In retaliation to the police incompetence following the murder, Mildred hires three billboards outside her town of Ebbing Missouri, which demand to see justice and goad police chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson) into action.

What follows is a spiral of chaos as the town rises into uproar about the billboards, including the fury of the racist police officer Jason Dixon, played by the incredibly underrated Sam Rockwell. It’s a movie about loss and anger, about human suffering and even more human hope, and while it maintains McDonagh’s signature cynicism, the movie has a beating heart that keeps you on its hook throughout.

With sizzling wit and humour blended into a passionate, controversial story of modern America, Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri is one to watch at the awards season – and on the big screen!