The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

[Eric Loves Rey]

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[Webslinger]

By equal turns funny, bleak, and achingly beautiful, The Banshees of Inisherin is another deeply stirring display of Martin McDonagh’s power as a storyteller. Shifting his attention back to Ireland and setting the action amid a period of civil war heard and discussed but not seen, McDonagh crafts a story about loneliness and the senselessness of petty bickering that feels fully human from the first scene to the last. Like the best of McDonagh’s work, it swings from moments of dark comedy to more poignant scenes so fluidly that it practically feels effortless, and there are moments bold and surprising enough to merit genuine gasps. It succeeds both as an intimate study of the psychology of its two leads and as a more allegorical commentary on the ways in which we destroy meaningful relationships – whether it’s a friendship or union as a nation – for petty reasons that blind us from the humanity and dignity of the other. It’s heady stuff, to be sure, but McDonagh and his cast are more than up to the task of making it work. It’s hard to pick an MVP between Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson in the lead roles – both give perhaps the best work of their often undervalued careers. Farrell finds the grace and pain in aimless Padraig’s dull life, playing up his befuddlement with Colm’s decision to shun him, his care for the people and animals who are important to him, and his sadness over his increasingly isolated life in a manner that feels true. Gleeson is both acerbically funny and quietly heartbreaking as Colm, succeeding in humanizing Colm’s decision to end his friendship with Padraig by highlighting his growing despair and existential dread over being forgotten after he’s dead. Though they obviously don’t get to play off one another as much as they did in McDonagh’s In Bruges, but their interactions with one another read like those of longtime friends, and little gestures and turns of phrase help to further highlight the sense of verisimilitude. As Siobhan, Padraig’s sister, Kerry Condon does lively and affecting work as someone trying – and mostly failing – to be a voice of reason in the central feud and a supportive presence in Colm’s directionless existence. Barry Keoghan also does a great job of understanding what his role as village idiot Dominic is asking of him, and he turns in a performance that ultimately feels surprisingly moving. With its darkly hilarious humor and its moving dramatic sensibilities, The Banshees of Inisherin earns its place near the top of McDonagh’s work, and also registers as one of the very best films of this year.

 

A

[SchumacherFTW]

I'm not really sure what to say about this. It's a conventionally good movie, the characters are interesting, there's some good laughs to be had as well, but it never really soared for me. It's not bad by any stretch of the imagination, just wasn't blown away. 

 

3.5/5

[filmlover]

Finally saw this on HBO Max and have to say it did not disappoint. You know you're getting a Martin McDonagh production from something that goes back and forth between human tragedy and dark comedy seamlessly, and I appreciated that it approached seemingly simple but in reality complex issues without resorting to easy answers or attempting to put a nice little bow on everything. Sensational performances from Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keoghan (first time a performance of his has ever done much for me). Also stunning cinematography too. This is the kind of movie that manages to stay with you long after it's finished. A-

[Joel M]

Amazing movie and the whole cast was just incredible. McDonagh's best since In Bruges quite easily. I hope Colin wins for this.

[baumer]

One of the most pointless movies I've ever seen. Shockingly boring incredibly pointless mostly stupid but with incredible acting, especially from Jenny, who was by far the best character.

 

3/10