Written & Directed by Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan
We all know I’m a sucker for a film filled with beautiful images and actors that are on the top of their game…
So, venture as you will with me into the isles off the coast of Ireland, as we meet friends Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell) and Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson), who have spent years together in their small niche community, sharing their thoughts and dreams of what their futures might hold…
When Colm seems to have had a few misgivings over the last few months, on the importance of this waining friendship, he decides to call the whole thing off, informing Padraic that “its’ over”…
Reeling from the thought that his lifelong friend must have lost his good senses, Padraic vows to make amends with his friend, as how can you truly end a friendship that has been many, many years in the making???
When Colm lays down an ultimatum, trying to convince Padraic that if he doesn’t leave him alone, and move on, there will dire circumstances, even Padric’s sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) becomes concerned for her brother’s mental stability, and that of his wayward friends too…
When youngster Dominic (Barry Keoghan) tries to help mend the rif between these two friends along the way as well, it seems that no one is going to be able to stop the madness that is about to ensue…
Now, as the world for both old friends starts to totally unravel, the question is, will the pain of loss in one way or another finally consume them both, before they have an opportunity to live out their lives in peace…?
I give the THE BANSHEES of INISHERIN a rating of 1 out of 5 Stars: It pains me to give this rating to a film that includes two of my favorite actors, and scenes of grandeur that are absolutely breathtaking, with the realism of the Irish Civil War set as the background. It also pains me to give this rating to this new film, as I so loved McDonagh’s 2017 masterpiece THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI very much too. But, this time my friends, this storyline is so painfully bizarre, and grotesque for me at times, that even the above average performances by both Farrell and Gleeson, barely helped me make it through this film. I guess trying to make sense of a film that is marred in madness, isn’t truly realistic either, but as THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN plays out, this story goes from starting a little off kilter, to going down in flames for me, as even it’s ending comes across painful at best. And throughout this sometimes comedic adventure into the darkness of real-life, I felt glimses of hope that we may evetually get to the reasoning behind why Gleeson’s character was so hell bent on self-distruction, but to no avail. I was also in hopes that Farrell’s character would finally gain the strength to disconnect himself from the extremely bizarre world that was encompassing his every waking moment, with the exception of his interactions with his wonderful sister, played by Kerry Condon, or with the town youngster, played to perfection by Barry Keoghan. But, sadly here too, there is no pain resolve for the weary, as Writer and Director Martin McDonagh sees fit to keep us in the darkness of this dreary film the whole way through. The tragedy of the death of a friendship playing out on screen was only magnified in the tragedy of this film which ensues, as it despirately needs more intellectual understanding conveyed onto the screen. I’m anxious to see if THE BANSHEES of INISHERIN makes its way full force into awards season, as both Farrell and Gleeson’s performances may ring as some of the best by the end of this year’s releases, but I cannot in good conscience send you out to the theater to catch this one, regardless of their performances…
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 