On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Pádraic is devastated when his buddy Colm suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With help from his sister and a troubled young islander, Pádraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm's resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences.
Director: Martin McDonagh
Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
Release Date: October 21, 2022
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated R for language throughout, some violent content and brief graphic nudity.
Runtime: 1h 49m
Review:
The Banshees of Inisherin, the latest black comedy from Martin McDonagh, it’s a funny, compelling fable that's simplistic on the surface but one the will likely stick with you as you ruminate the meaning of it all. McDonagh creates an authentic ecosystem of people and relationships that brings life to the mundane something he's done to great effect in previous films. The script is sharply written with plenty of dialogue that pops off the screen which makes the character's interplay the film's highlights. What's more impressive is that the story is thematically dense, functioning on multiple levels which leaves the door open for a multitude of metaphorical interpretations. A strong script pair with excellent performances from its two leads makes this film incredibly watchable and easy to digest unlike the majority of awards fodder. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite with McDonagh for the first time since they collaborated in 2008's In Bruges and again bringing out the best in each other. Farrell and Gleeson have a natural chemistry together which serves as the film's life blood. Farrell leaning into the happy go lucky attitude early on in order to watch him emotionally degrade as the film wears on. Gleeson makes his character's stubbornness tangible as he drops hints desperation as he tackles his impending mortality. They are fascinating throughout because they give you a real sense that there is so much more simmering under the surface for both men. They deserve the lion's share of the credit here but supporting turns from Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan leave a memorable impression as well. Fans of Martin McDonagh know that his film's use black comedy to explore larger issues and The Banshees of Inisherin does so in spades.
A
