Viewed: 31/12/22.
Director: Martin McDonagh
Actors: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
Genre: Drama / Comedy
Rating: M
‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ is from director McDonagh, he of ‘In Bruges’, ‘Seven Psychopaths’ & ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ fame. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it as good as any of his previous films. It’s good to see Farrell & Gleeson back together again, as well as a predominately Irish cast playing Irish characters. The plot is simple – Colm (Gleeson) decides he doesn’t have time to be friends with Padraic (Farrell) anymore, so Padraic, his sister Siobhan (Condon) and another friend, Dominic (Keoghan), try to find out why.
Part of the problem is their isolation,
living on the (fictional) island of Inisherin off the west coast of Ireland in
the 1920s – there’s not much else to do or many other people to interact with!
There are plenty of chuckles as the news spreads (via refreshing accents not
often heard in Hollywood films) and Padraic tries to comprehend what his
long-time friend is doing to him. The 1920s era means there’s no cars, electricity
or large buildings, so the scenery (real-life islands of Inishmore, off the
coast of Galway) and sunsets are stunning, almost their own character.
The acting’s great, particularly Condon,
with Keoghan purposefully annoying, Farrell often bewildered and Gleeson adroit.
While it’s a comedy, it’s very dark and bleak – definitely more of a black
comedy or “dramedy” than anything laugh-out-loud. Definitely lots to enjoy, but
the ending and overall plot left me gloomy, when I was hoping for a little bit
of light at the end of the tunnel.
Overall: Great-looking bleak comedy.
Gav’s Rating: 3 stars.
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