The Banshees of Inisherin

The (un)official final part of the free trilogy from the Aran Islands. Of McDonagh’s works, this the closest to his theatre roots, which is a problem. McDonagh is a better writer than director and a better playwright than screenwriter, and as a film director, he tries to hide the distinct theatricality of the script, which is a mistake, it would be better if he accepted it for what it is. It is a minor detail, but coupled with the fact that it's not the best part of the trilogy, which also as a whole is overshadowed by the Leenan trilogy, means that The Bahsees of Inisherin feels like a tiny step backwards for McDonagh as a writer and as a director. Since his film debut, I've wanted him to be closer to his roots in style and substance, and this confirms the proverbial "be careful what you wish for, it might come true". But does any of this mean it's not excellent or perhaps superbly acted? Not at all. (02/07/2023)

The Banshees of Inisherin begins as a tale of inflated ego, but grows into an otherworldly tale of kindness and vanity. Farrell and Gleeson excel again under the direction of McDonagh. The superb dialogue, the search for the reason for it all and the very slowly escalating conflict are absorbing and, apart from a minor slower passage in the middle, it is an excellent piece of work. Burwell's minimalist music fits beautifully. (12/17/2022)

Man is a social creature! However, this does not preclude the possibility that he may at times become overwhelmed by someone's company and therefore, at his own discretion, fair or not, decide not to continue to waste his time with that person. At first glance, this sounds like a simple theme from everyday life, but Martin McDonagh took it in his own distinctive way and served us a powerful story that will entertain the viewer from the heart with its immediacy, only to give them an unpleasant chill down their spine and a bittersweet taste in their mouth in the next moment. Friendship may be eternal, but it certainly should not be taken for granted. The Banshees of Inisherin wouldn't be so effective and precise, though, if it weren't for the excellent cast (with excellent local English), whether it was the endearingly tough Colin Farrell, the chillingly stubborn Brendan Gleeson, the (un)happily goofy Barry Keoghan, or the caring Kerry Condon (all the acting Oscar nominations are spot on here). Last but not least, the unmistakable soundtrack deserves praise, perfectly underlining the beauty, but also the bleakness of the remote island where the banshees still announce an approaching death with their wailing. P.S. "I am not putting my donkey outside when I'm sad, okay?" (01/30/2023)

A pleasant, cruel conversational movie about the fact that sometimes you can simply hate your neighbour for no apparent reason. There isn’t anything especially deep about it; it’s just a pleasantly thick stout with white foam in the form of a great central duo and a setting that’s as hearty as its inhabitants. (01/14/2023)

A perfect portrayal of that strange human behaviour, when a person does something that those around them don't understand, but at that moment it makes perfect sense to them. Martin McDonagh only needed another feature film with a polished script and sensational actors to say something others can't. And while there is no moment as powerful as Sam Rockwell's in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, it's a great film to reflect on for a long time afterwards – not because you want to understand it, but because you just want to think about it. (02/13/2023)