We went to see Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri on Friday and I can’t stop thinking about. It’s the story of Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) whose daughter was murdered and no killer has been found. Angry with lack of progress she hires three billboards asking the chief of police why.
That act sets off a trail of recrimination, destruction and violence. The police chief (Woody Harrelson) is dying of cancer and his deputy (Sam Rockwell) is a racist, sadist, idiotic thug who simply wants to kick seven shades of crap out of everyone, read comics and listen to Abba.
When something is billed as a black comedy it’s usually dark with wry cynical humour rather than laugh out loud. This is laugh, uncomfortably but very loudly. For the first thirty minutes there were huge honking laughs throughout the cinema then as the consequences of Mildred’s actions mount up there was shock, lots of tears and then more laughing.
I want it to sweep the board at the Oscars. It looks beautiful, the score is evocative and simple, the script is a high wire act of funny, honest and bleak and the cast seem to live it, not act it.
It’s Frances McDormand’s show. Mildred fizzes with anger. Her daughter has been killed and nothing has been done. We don’t see this on screen. Female anger, guilt and frustration is usually channelled inward. Angry women are put in 1950’s frocks and given a hidden drinking problem as they quietly destroy themselves. Anger is denoted in a raised voice, messy eye makeup and a tearful speech. Mildred does none of that. She is confrontational, violent, smart mouthed, intelligent and mean. Her anger is understandable but not likeable. In her desire to see justice done for her daughter she alienates those around her and hurts her son. I want to see more righteously pissed off woman in film and on television. I want the monkeys to know that when life gets tough and makes you angry that there are other options than necking gin and crying in the kitchen with door shut. You can stand up for yourself, use your anger as a force and kick the problem in the crotch if necessary.