“I think you’ve got the makings of being a really good cop, Jason, and you know why? Because, deep down, you’re a decent man. I know you don’t think I think that, but I do, dipsh*t. I do think you’re too angry though, and I know it’s all since your dad died and you had to go look after your mom and all, but as long as you hold on to so much hate, then I don’t think you’re ever going to become, what I know you want to become – a detective. ‘Cause you know what you need to become a detective? And I know you’re gonna wince when I say this, but what you need to become a detective is love. Because through love comes calm, and through calm comes thought. And you need thought to detect stuff sometimes, Jason. It’s kinda all you need. You don’t even need a gun. And you definitely don’t need hate. Hate never solved nothing, but calm did. And thought did. Try it. Try it just for a change. No one’ll think you’re gay. And if they do, arrest ’em for homophobia! Won’t they be surprised! Good luck to you, Jason. You’re a decent man, and yeah you’ve had a run of bad luck, but things are gonna change for you. I can feel it.” – Willoughby
Number of Times Seen – 3 (28 Dec 2017, 24 Feb 2018 and 21 Oct 2019)
Link to original review – Here and Here
Brief Synopsis – After being frustrated by the lack of evidence in a crime committed months earlier, a local woman puts up three advertisements on local billboards in order to get the police to try and seek more evidence.
My Take on it – This is a film that is a superb character study that is enhanced by the amazing performances by the cast.
Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson are all stellar here and each of them were very deserving of their many award nominations for their work.
Both McDormand and Rockwell were able to win awards at the Oscars, Globes, BAFTA’s and SAG for their performances as actress and supporting actor respectively.
They find a very captivating way to tell this story and it remains focused on the irony of life throughout especially when it comes to the way that life always seems to have lots of surprises along the way.
The dialogue is superbly written and plays out so well because the characters and situations that they find themselves in feel very authentic and realistic throughout.
The character arcs are also planned out quite well and each of them changes significantly over the course of the movie in ways that they never could have suspected.
The film’s score is also great since it adds so much to the epic feel of a story that is in and of itself so far from being epic.
It was quite deserving of its wins for Best Picture at the Golden Globes, BAFTA and SAG (Best cast) and it’s a shame that it didn’t manage to also get enough support at the Oscars because it truly is one of the best films of the year.
It is able to grab the viewer from the very start and holds on all of the way until the credits begin to roll as we get to see such a powerful and realistic modern day story unfold.
Bottom Line – Great character study that works even better due to the amazing performances of the cast. McDormand, Rockwell and Harrelson are all superb here and they were all quite deserving of their Oscar nominations for their work here. Both McDormand and Rockwell went on to take home awards at the BAFTAS, Globes, SAG and Oscars for their performances. The story is told in a very captivating way that helps keep us focused on the irony of life and how things may happen in ways that we can never expect. The dialogue is superbly written and the situations that these characters get into all come across as being quite plausible and realistic the entire time. The character arcs are superbly planned and I loved how they are all completely changed by the end. The musical score is quite appropriate throughout and helps add a very epic feel to thing even though this is by far not an epic story. Very deserving of it’s wins for Best Picture at the Globes, SAG (Best cast) and BAFTA’s even if it missed the win at the Oscars. One of the best films of the years that grabs you from the very start and holds on until the credits begin to roll. Highly Highly Recommended!
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – In a rare instance, the Google Street View van was traveling through Sylva, North Carolina in May 2016 while primary filming was under way. On Google Street View (link in the External Sites section here on IMDb) there is ample evidence of crew, including set decoration, Second Assistant Directors, gaffers, and properties working on the south side of Main street. The Sylvan used furniture store is dressed as the Ebbing Police Station after the fire. Dressing crew can be seen putting up plywood on the burned building. (From IMDB)
Rating – Oscar Worthy (10/10) (no change from original review)
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MovieRob 
Sometimes the best kind of film is one where you cannot predict what is going to happen next and Three Billboards is completely fits that brief. Although Mildred’s story is perfectly plausible the characters that inhabit Ebbing are so interesting that you just don’t know what is going to happen. I was glued to the screen throughout, varying between being heartbroken and actually laughing out loud.
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