The Banshees of Inisherin (M): a movie review by Alex First
What does it take to ruin a friendship?
We find out in the latest eclectic endeavour from writer and director Martin McDonagh.
He has a way of looking at the world that is decidedly different.
That sensibility has been a hallmark of his canon of films, which includes In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
The Banshees of Inisherin continues that trend.
Inisherin is a made-up name for where the film is set, namely a small, picturesque island off the coast of Ireland.
Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) have been lifelong friends.
But now, for no apparent reason, Doherty wants to sever the link between them.
He wants nothing to do with Suilleabhain. He doesn’t even want Suilleabhain to address him.
It is very unusual behaviour, to say the least, and the island is abuzz.
The first question everyone asks is whether the pair had been feuding, and the answer is “no”.
So, early on, we find out why Doherty has decided to ditch Suilleabhain.
But as extraordinary as that is, it is nothing compared to the consequences of Suilleabhain continuing to engage with Doherty.
Doherty, a composer and fiddle player, goes to extreme lengths to see his wish fulfilled.
Suilleabhain’s sister, Siobhan (Kerry Condon), whom he lives with, sees close hand what an impact Doherty’s edict is having on her brother and doesn’t like it one bit.
Beautiful that it is, Inisherin is a lonely and isolating place, and Siobhan sees her life slipping by, so she has an important decision to make.
Meanwhile, a subplot involves a somewhat dull resident and drinking companion of Suilleabhain, Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan) and his policeman father, Peadar (Gary Lydon).
Kearney often blurts out the wrong thing, while his father has issues of another sort.
And then there’s the island’s resident, a witch-like “ghoul”, who creeps out Suilleabhain.
The Banshees of Inisherin is a remarkable character study of interpersonal relationships.
It is the interplay that makes the movie as good as it is.
The acting is top shelf all the way.
Farrell is riveting as a man perplexed who just won’t let go of his desire to maintain his strong association with his best friend.
Gleeson is ideally suited to fill the role of a man who has made up his mind, yet the basis of that decision points to mental health issues.
Condon makes the most of her persona as a woman who is stoic but trapped.
Keoghan has a wow of a time, exploiting the peccadillos of a man who isn’t quite 100 cents in the dollar.
The cinematography by Ben Davis (Three Billboards) is outstanding, painting the island itself as another character
The Banshees of Inisherin is comedic, dramatic and decidedly quirky.
While not a film for all tastes, I was fascinated.
Rated M, it scores an 8½ out of 10.
