Right now, the likeliest film to sweep the Oscars is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. This could come as a surprise, especially considering contenders for Oscar gold this year! With “Lady Bird†emerging as the little indie that could, and “The Shape of Water†taking the world by storm, here’s why this odd and shockingly poignant film is probably going to stomp its competition:
It’s the Third Home Run For Writer/Director Martin McDonagh
To many casual cinemagoers, Martin McDonagh may be just another British director they’ve never heard of. Two things though; first, Martin McDonagh has duel citizen ship for both the UK and Ireland, where he is acclaimed as one of the greatest living playwrights; and second, his last two films have been absolute masterpieces. He first broke onto the scene with “In Brugesâ€, the story of two Irish hit men on the lamb in the Belgian town. His sophomore effort turned out another oddball critical darling, “Seven Psychopaths.†Although wildly different films, they share a common McDonagh signature: bizarrely hilarious story arcs that border on the absurd, which still manage to compel a theme that grips their audiences and relentlessly pounds them with emotional turmoil. McDonagh films are not easily forgotten, and the lasting impression you’re left with after watching one is something you will undoubtedly carry with you. Although In Bruges did receive a single nomination for Best Original Screenplay, neither film has taken home a coveted statue. Alas, McDonagh’s time of being passed over by the academy has come to an end, as “Three Billboards…†goes into the 2018 Oscars with 7 nominations.
It’s Already Cleaned Up at Other Awards Shows
If other award shows are any indication, then “Three Billboards…†should be your first pick in the Oscar pool. Probably the safest bet is Frances McDormand for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. For playing a grieving mother who creates chaos in her small town by posting billboards blaming the chief of police for his inaction in her daughters murder, McDormand’s powerhouse performance has received a Golden Globe, a SAG award, most recently a BAFTA, and an additional SAG award for the ensemble cast. Fellow actors Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson are both nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, but with Rockwell having won the Golden Globe for the same category, he seems to be the favourite to win. Among a plethora of other awards, the film has taken home the “Best Picture/Film of the Year†awards from the Golden Globes (in the drama category), the BAFTAs, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, and the AFI awards. Here’s hoping it’s momentum is enough to topple other favourites and win big at the Oscars.
It Captures Contemporary America
In talking about the theme of “Three Billboards…†one has to start at the beginning of the story, with the inciting incident of Mildred Pierce hiring the three billboards to personally lay blame at the feet of the police for not catching her daughters killer. One question left with the audience, and asked throughout the film, is “why?†What could she possibly hope to accomplish with this act? To say she has gone through an unbearable amount of pain is an understatement, and in her anger she has lashed out with the sole purpose to inflict pain and hurt others around her. Her rage has distanced her from nearly the entire town, and even her own son. A parallel story of pain and anger can be seen in Sam Rockwell’s Police Officer Dixon: his anger manifests in violence, and has him labeled a racist throughout the town, and it’s not until a heartfelt message from a mentor sets him on a path to let go of his hatred. Throughout the movie, the ever-present theme of the toxicity of hatred is palpable. It’s tough not to see the town of Ebbing as a microcosm of the United States: people are afraid, unsure, frustrated, and above all they are angry. For many throughout the country, hatred is an outlet, even if it’s all too often misdirected. With that in mind, a reading of “Three Billboards…†could leave audiences with a feeling of hope, that through compassion and forgiveness we can let go of our pain and eschew our hatred. Given the unsure climate of the United States and many other countries, there is perhaps no better film is fit to take home Oscar gold in this time.
