Movie Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

One of the things I loved about "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (and there are a lot ) is that you never really know what direction the story is going. It has that unique "tragic comedy" element which is both unexpected and endearing at the same time. 

Frances McDormand's award winning performance (which is already reason enough to see the film, although there are more) of a grieving, in search of justice for her daughter who was brutally killed and raped, becomes frustrated that there have been no arrests and takes matters into her own hands by renting three billboards with this sequence of messages: 

"RAPED WHILE DYING", "AND STILL NO ARRESTS?", and "HOW COME, CHIEF WILLOUGHBY?" 

The small town is immediately against Mildred (McDormand) as they choose to rally behind and support the local Chief, Bill Willoughby (played by Woody Harrelson) who is also suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer. 

What follows is a mix of tragic and comedic exchanges between Mildred and the people around her, particularly racist officer Jason Dixon (also an award winning performance from Sam Rockwell) who confronts Mildred and harasses her friends. 

With the effective use of dark comedy and powerful performances from its veteran cast, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is a beautiful and powerful film about a small town who is forced to come together amid a grieving mother's struggle to find justice for her daughter, which during the course of the film turns into healing and acceptance through the most hilarious and shocking circumstances. 

With powerful performances from its stellar cast, led by the tough and grieving Mildred (Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell is also a winner!) "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" won't go the way you think it would and that keeps it interesting and in turn would keep you guessing throughout. Shoutout to Peter Dinklage who is hilarious in the film! 

10/10 a film filmed with lessons on life and how sometimes it does take a village to get things done, in this case, find peace, forgiveness and acceptance.   

This Oscar contender opens on Feb.14 in the following cinemas: Eastwood, Shangri-la Mass, Century City Mall, Commerce Mall, Festival Mall, Fisher Mall, Gateway Mall, Fora in Tagaytay and at Vista Cinemas: Evia, Las Pinas, Sta. Rosa, Bataan, Pampanga and Daang Hari.