Banshees of Inisherin, 8/10
Out of this year's Oscar contenders this is the final one I watched prior to the awards. Yeah, it's as great as everyone says it is. Martin McDonagh proves once again to be one of the most interesting directors of today, you always know when you're watching one of his movies. It was a bit more of a comedy than Three Billboards, but not by much, and the ending here is much more of a downer. Padraic and Colm are both tragically obstinate and set in their ways, and hopelessly tunnel visioned in their lives. The film paints a very dour and downbeat existence for everyone, where even the slightest upset in their routines send their lives spinning out of control. As with all of his films, McDonagh writes very compelling and multidimensional characters, all of whom are flawed and human, and no one is explicitly the good or bad guy. Padraic is nice and jovial, but definitely dumb and lacking self-awareness, and when put to the test, selfish and spiteful. Pretty much the only sane person seems to be Siobhán, and she only escapes the misery by leaving her life behind altogether.
The film looks and sounds gorgeous. The score is very minimal, almost bubbly at times, but fits the film perfectly. The cinematography captures stunning landscapes you can just feast your eyes on, but makes them also look soul-draining and crushing. The acting is obviously top of the line with Colin Farrell once again in top form. It's also very funny in that very specific awkward but also sad way that only the Coen brothers I've seen do something similar to.
In criticisms I found the pacing to be a bit slow in the beginning, where it felt like it was repeating itself somewhat. But after the first 15-20 minutes I never once thought how much of the film had gone by. It settles into a very smooth, almost comforting pace as you're drawn into the world and characters.