Who saw Three Billboards - This is a talk thread about the movie, so spoilers will abound.

[Baitball Blogger]

I really appreciated that the movie took the lengths it did and allowed the characters to take their absurd reactions and counter-reactions to the extremes. This way you can see clearly that the setting, a small town, was the antagonist in the movie. Expectations from the townspeople created a pile-on of peer pressure that tried the antagonist's resolve. They see her as unreasonable when the only thing that drives her is logic.

As each one tried to steer her away from her intent, Mildred Hayes called them out without blinking. She pointed out the priest's hypocrisy for trying to subdue her when he should be taking responsibility for all the members of his congregation that commit heinous acts. And she stood up to her ex-husband's bullying and sabotage attempts.

But there was one hurdle that was especially indicative of small town manipulations and that was when the police chief, Bill Willoughby, tried to diffuse Mildred by telling her that he was dying. I'm thinking, dude! Really, that happens all the time in small towns. When all else fails, make it personal and use your health problems to deflect criticism or to avoid taking responsibility. But the movie took it up a notch by making Willoughby a very likeable, nice guy and not the usual self-interested, deceptive character.

Seriously, I could stand to see a sequel if these kind of truths are exposed with each new character.

[7wo7rees]

1. I also liked it.

Although I believe the antagonist was driven by anger. Anger makes us come to conclusions that separate us. Dixon and the dentist paid dearly for their unresolved anger.

The script's goal, I believe, was to show that anger can light a fuse but connecting with our adversaries is more powerful. Witness the admonition to the ex about his new love, the resolution found in the chief's letter to her, the burn victim and his roommate at the hospital, and the combination of Dixon and Hayes in the road trip. Even the dwarf's declaration of self-respect.

They are all looking for recognition and understanding. We all are. And most learn there is value in seeking understanding from those that vex us.

Great film. Forget the spoilers and see it.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Good wrap up.

The only thing that keeps it from reaching evangelical proportions as a summary is that the value of seeking understanding from Mildred and the deputy was to turn them into vigilantes. Reaching across the aisle has its limitations.

[7wo7rees]

3. We all have our limitations.

Given the opportunity for Grace, we don't all accept it.

[Phentex]

16. good summary

It's a thinking person's movie.

McDormand was perfect as usual. I was surprised by Rockwell's performance and pleased he was rewarded for it.

[handmade34]

4. "small town"

is key to story but not necessarily as the "antagonist"... the movie is more about the dynamics of a small town than it is about Mildred, or any one character, and Mildred doesn't end up being the protagonist... my take on Three Billboards is the complexity of a small town and the individuals that make up the whole... I just finished watching it about 15 min ago, so I am still processing

[Baitball Blogger]

6. That's a fair assessment.

"Dynamics of a small town" is the same as "small town", to me.

[Sancho]

5. I just watched it...

And I really identified with many characters because I lived for years in small Southern towns.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Thank you.

That's what I meant when I said that each character reveals a Truth.

[blogslut]

8. I dug it.

I liked that all the characters were flawed and that there was no resolution or closure.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Exactly. The only truthful ending.

And in the case when there is no resolution it isn't uncommon for individuals who have hit rock bottom to combine forces to come up with a potentially, self-destructive course.

[lindysalsagal]

10. I read the writer kept reversing the decision if they went after the guy, or not.

I can't say I enjoyed the film, and some of it really wouldn't have made any sense in real life, but, it did reveal how othersise "good" people can snap and do bad things. I also didn't buy that the cop was redeemed...

But the performances were quite impressive, so, they definitely earned whatever awards they get.

[rurallib]

11. I though for the first 45 minutes or so it was a brilliant comedy

especially the scene with the priest.

It was an enjoyable movie that desperately needed an ending

[Baitball Blogger]

15. I'm more than fine with the ending.

I've seen so much talk about reaching out to people who wrong you, that it surprises me that no one has figured out that any compromise or alliance with morally conflicted people has the potential of bringing out the worst in you.

[LAS14]

17. What caused you to stop thinking it was a brilliant comedy? nt

[rurallib]

21. good question

I guess the latter part seemed more serious. Not really sure.

[LAS14]

22. I'd be interested in your response to my post #19.

[Corgigal]

12. Saw it today.

Hubby and I watched it at home. When it was over, we just sat in our chairs a little bit so our bodies could unknot. I said in another thread, it feels like America right now. Crazy people, pain, crazy decisions, good decisions.

What a ride.

[pressbox69]

13. A tough American Masterpiece.

McDormand gives the performance that John Wayne and Clint Eastwood could only dream about.

[Baitball Blogger]

14. I don't know how she walks that thin line between sympathetic figure and brutal rage,

But she succeeded. Think about how hard she was on Willoughby, yet she was quick to console him after he coughed blood on her. That swing was enormous. Only when she was in a scene with Peter Dinklage that you see that she was so determined and focused on a path that was leading her outside the parameter of the law that you realized that each day would make her more unlikeable.

[Phentex]

18. Was there a reason Harrelson was married to a much younger woman?

Loved the movie and think others have already summarized many of my feelings. But this was one part that bugged me. The ex husband with the 19 year old fits the cliche but the Sheriff? Did I miss something?

[Baitball Blogger]

20. Does not surprise me.

I worked at a Mr. Donut many decades ago when I was on summer break for college. We had a sixteen year old co-worker who over-plucked her brows, but had a body like a, well, very firm sixteen year old with pronounced burgeoning femininity and it was very obvious that the fifty year old police chief (I'm not sure he was the police chief, but that was what everyone called him) was very sweet on her. Good looking guy. They married within the year.

[Phentex]

25. It's just so Hollywood!

Thought maybe we were gonna get past that a little. I realize this movie was made before the latest movement though.

[LAS14]

19. A brilliant dark comedy. But hubby and I didn't figure that out...

... until we got home. We took it straight as we watched it and on the way home. Then at home we started focussing on the over the top aspects. First was the new black sheriff. Too stereo-typical. Then there was how impossibly nice Willoughby was.... And then we began laughing uproariously as we went through scene by scene. The calendar picture scenery near the billboards in one scene. Then the million dollar views from the shack like homes of the main characters. It's a genius movie because we enjoyed it thoroughly both times.

[rurallib]

23. pretty much agree

It has been about a month since I saw its I don't have a clear memory of it, but there are some scenes that were so over the top.

I have a kind of strange sense of humor and more than once I have been laughing when the rest of the audience is kind of tense. So there were about 30 people in the theater and I was the only one laughing at many scenes.

I don't know why but I just felt the last part of the show was a bit slower than the beginning. It was still humorous with some really odd turns. But the beginning as I recall had some of the funniest scenes I have seen in a long time.

I can't fully recall it now, but the dinner with the dwarf talking about her not having sex with him had me rolling.

I seldom see movies 2X but would like to see this one again.

Oh - the views - yeah both my wife and I commented on that during the show.

[LAS14]

24. My memory is coming back too. Specifically about...

... the beautiful background fields in one shot. While I was watching the movie I thought, "Hmmm... this isn't done real well. It's obviously not a real outdoor scene. It almost looks like a photographed background." When we got home and were going through the scenes it dawned on me that that was exactly the impression the director wanted to make. It was at exactly the right level of subtlety.

Thanks for reminding me about the scene with Peter Dinklage, the dwarf.

And then there's that souvenir shop, lined with little creatures or mugs or something labeled "Welcome to Ebbing" or something like that. And the big bad guy throughs a mug at the wall and a couple fall down. It was hysterical, but for us only in retrospect. Again.... genius movie making, to keep the lid on the comedy and keep us fixated on the drama.

[LAS14]

31. I enjoyed our "chat." Please see my post #30. nt

[samnsara]

26. SPOILER ALERT FOLLOWS!

...hubby didnt get the ending. I thought it showed how both characters evolved from their world of hate and both were bullies but for different reasons. They evolved in the end.

[MaryMagdaline]

27. Gratuitous violence; overacting

If you like Cohen Brothers and In Bruges (McDonough) you will probably like this movie. Too much overacting for me.

[LAS14]

28. See my response #19 re "over acting." Does this change your take on it? nt

[MaryMagdaline]

32. The things you point out are present in In Bruges

Also written by McDonough. Very much like Pulp Fiction. I like In Bruges better. If you have seen it, would like to hear your views.

I was entertained by the movie but just did not think it was that funny. Frances Dormond was so much better in Fargo with understated irony. In billboards she was just so conscious of being watched by the audience ... as was the sheriff' wife. I don't know if the director intended this. It's as if Frances was looking at us out of the corner of her eye to gauge our reaction ... like someone acting out in public.

[LAS14]

33. Have not seen Bruges. Will definitely seek it out. This...

...conversation is great. See my post #30, as my thinking of several weeks' span has finally coalesced. Do you think my conclusions in #30 apply to Bruges?

[MaryMagdaline]

34. Oh yes

Dark humor, liberal use of stereotypes (no pun intended). You will probably like Bruges since you are in sync with McDonough's parody. Hope you watch and enjoy!

[LAS14]

35. Will let you know.

[Upthevibe]

29. I really liked it and saw it two

times. There really is a lot there to digest...

[LAS14]

30. I've finally figured out my response to this movie.

We saw it maybe a month ago, maybe more. See my response #19 for our schizophrenic reaction. I've thought about it off and on and was delighted to see this thread. Here's what came to me ten minutes ago. The actors played it straight. The were uniformly superb. They were persuasive. You cared. The comedy came in the script at settings. That nutty souvenir shop and the ridiculous behavior of the bad guy, throwing a single souvenir and knocking over a few things. The you-can-just-tell-it's-not-real scenery in the fields by the billboards. Etc. The people that complained about the steriotyping of the black replacement sheriff didn't get it. He was compelling. But the role was over-the-top parody.

Thanks, DU!!!! I can now stop puzzling over this movie!