Recommended. Movie Night!

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

I had wanted to see, Three Billboards in large part because of Frances McDormand.  Mildred Hayes, her character here, reminds me of her tour de force portrayal of Olive Kitteridge, blunt, tough, crass (a performance I would strongly recommend). This cast is an ensemble of excellent actors; Peter Dinklage, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, McDormand and others.  The premise of the movie revolves around the extreme frustration of the mother of a murdered daughter and what she perceives to be the incompetence of the local police department to find the perpetrator.  She vents her anger by leasing billboards to shame the local police chief (Harrelson) who is well-liked (and likable) and havoc ensues.  While the subject matter is not in the least humorous, (besides the referenced rape and murder there is a suicide, domestic assault, racial bigotry and graphic violence) I did find myself chuckling on several occasions.  (This probably says more about me than it does about the film!) This is probably not a movie everyone will want to see, but if dark humor and perverse characters portrayed by exceptional actors is your thing…enjoy!