DARK COMEDY
Frances McDormand powerful in haunting but humorous ‘Three Billboards’
In the first act of the awkwardly titled but brilliantly executed “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” we think we’ve got a handle on the main characters and what they’re all about, including:
Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), a grieving divorced mother simmering with rage because the local police haven’t found a suspect or even unearthed a promising lead since her teenage daughter, Angela (Kathryn Newton), was kidnapped, raped, set afire and murdered.
Mildred’s teenage son, Robbie (Lucas Hedges), a smart (and smartass) kid mourning his sister, but also deeply embarrassed by his mother’s increasingly bold and even violent antics.
Police Chief Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), who is gruff and foul-mouthed, but also clever and a good family man.
Jason Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an alcoholic, thick-witted, near sociopathic cop who lives with his mean old racist witch of a mother.
Red Welby (Caleb Landry Jones), the smirking, perpetually jumpy local advertising man, who gladly accepts Mildred’s cash offer to paint a message on three billboards that are just outside the town of Ebbing.
We think we know these people, because the writer-director, Martin McDonagh (architect of “In Bruges,” one of the best dark comedy capers you’ll ever see), has done a masterful job with the script and with his visuals (North Carolina stands in for Missouri), and because the cast turns in perhaps the best ensemble work of any movie this year.