Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

I had been wanting to see this one for a long time.   I missed it when it was on at the film festival in August, and now it has been out for a couple of weeks on general release here in kiwiland.  There has been a lot mentioned about it as award season circulates, and so I finally made some time on my Saturday afternoon to go to a grown up peoples cinema (one where there are few children, teenagers with cellphones and cheap tickets).

Mildred Hayes is upset, her teenage daughter has been killed and the local police seem to be doing nothing about finding  the murderer.  So she uses three old billboards on a rural road to advertise her frustration and from there the story truly starts as the impact  of her decision causes friction around town.

I am not one to watch a movie just because of the award nominations, but the three from this movie deserve the oscar buzz.  Frances McDormand is truly outstanding in the lead role and Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell are pretty steller too.  This story is full of violence and swearing, and even though the story is very much a drama it does have its comedic moments and somehow it rides the balance of offensive and amusing at the same time.  I certainly didn't nod of in this one.  5/5