The violence in the film is horrific and undercuts any claims that the film is a dark or black comedy. The comic relief was forced, and the entire scene felt disingenuous and was sabotaged. Immediately, Mildred, Charlie, and Robbie pick up the knocked over furniture and resume their conversation like nothing happened. Her dialogue and character are intended for comic relief, but her character belongs in a different movie. The confrontation is diffused by Charlie’s 19-year-old girlfriend entering the home and awkwardly babbling about needing to use the bathroom. Things quickly escalate between the two and Charlie suddenly throws the kitchen table, strangles Mildred by the neck, and only yields when their son Robbie (Hedges) holds a kitchen knife against his dad’s throat. It has been implied that Charlie beat Mildred while they were married, and his entrance stokes the tension and threat of violence. Charlies is played by the criminally underused John Hawkes. One scene, in particular, encapsulates my problems with the film.Ĭharlie, Mildred’s ex-husband, pays her and their son Robbie a visit. McDonagh and Gregory’s use of humor and levity undercuts the serious stakes at play in ‘Three Billboards.’ The Coen Brothers and Tarantino have consistently infused humor and levity to counter moments of terror, threat, and violence. I don’t think he’s mastered the importance of timing, pauses, and space necessary to have humor effectively land in dramatic films. Jon Gregory is listed as the film’s editor. Part of the offense goes to the writing and part of the blame goes to editing. The majority of humor is not only unfunny, it is cringingly unfunny. The tone and execution of this film is its biggest offense. What makes ‘Three Billboards’ such an epic misfire? Well for starters, it is either a grossly unfunny dark comedy, or a drama that undercuts its subject matter with misplaced attempts at humor.
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI WATCH ONLINE FULL
Here is my full review and analysis of what I think it's a bad film:īelow is a condensed version of my review: I know I'm in the minority here, but I really, really, really, disliked Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri.