The Banshees of Inisherin is a movie that succeeds in several different ways. It's a very Irish film; directed by Irishman Martin McDonagh, with an all-Irish cast, and a beautiful setting on Inisherin, a fictional island off the coast of Ireland. The premise is simple. Padraic and Colm are lifelong friends until Colm decides he doesn't like Padraic anymore. Colm then decides if Padraic keeps trying to talk to him, he'll cut his own fingers off. Perhaps the best thing about it is that it is both as a film you can appreciate at the surface level, and also for its deeper meanings as well. If you want to view it as a simple dark comedy, then it works as that. If you look for deeper meaning you find a story about loneliness, the limits of friendships, depression, broken relationships, and Bergman-esque existentialism that is present as well. There is also a theory that it's about the Irish Civil War (Inisherin means Ireland Island), which is something really different.
Meaning aside, Banshees is a great movie in technical terms. This is a fantastically written film. It's a tragicomedy, as good as it comes. There is a delicate balance between the two, and it knows exactly when to be lighthearted and when to be serious; there is no tonal inconsistency. It has genuinely funny moments. Each character has a style of humor that ties directly into their personality; the simplicity of Padraic, the dry humor of Colm, the bluntness of Siobhan, and even the (extremely) dark humor of Dominic. Not only do they each work perfectly well for each other, but also in relation to the other characters. Yet it is also filled with tragedy, especially the broken friendship itself. Although the ending of the film is rather open-ended, it is entirely possible that this feud is never resolved. Inisherin is gorgeous, and the cinematographer took advantage of every sweeping vista. It is an interesting juxtaposition, too. Life on Inisherin is so limiting, despite how physically open the island is.
All of the performances in this movie are exceptional. Colin Farell and Brendon Gleeson are great in the leading roles. Kerry Condon is fantastic as Siobhan as well. If there's one standout performance, it's that of Barry Keoghan as Dominic, who has been quietly building quite a repertoire for himself. The most interesting character in the movie is Mrs. McCormack. The question is; is she just a kooky old lady, or is she literally a banshee; literally an otherworldly being watching over Inisherin? The case can be made for both.
This is my personal pick for Best Picture.
Meaning aside, Banshees is a great movie in technical terms. This is a fantastically written film. It's a tragicomedy, as good as it comes. There is a delicate balance between the two, and it knows exactly when to be lighthearted and when to be serious; there is no tonal inconsistency. It has genuinely funny moments. Each character has a style of humor that ties directly into their personality; the simplicity of Padraic, the dry humor of Colm, the bluntness of Siobhan, and even the (extremely) dark humor of Dominic. Not only do they each work perfectly well for each other, but also in relation to the other characters. Yet it is also filled with tragedy, especially the broken friendship itself. Although the ending of the film is rather open-ended, it is entirely possible that this feud is never resolved. Inisherin is gorgeous, and the cinematographer took advantage of every sweeping vista. It is an interesting juxtaposition, too. Life on Inisherin is so limiting, despite how physically open the island is.
All of the performances in this movie are exceptional. Colin Farell and Brendon Gleeson are great in the leading roles. Kerry Condon is fantastic as Siobhan as well. If there's one standout performance, it's that of Barry Keoghan as Dominic, who has been quietly building quite a repertoire for himself. The most interesting character in the movie is Mrs. McCormack. The question is; is she just a kooky old lady, or is she literally a banshee; literally an otherworldly being watching over Inisherin? The case can be made for both.
This is my personal pick for Best Picture.