Martin McDonagh reunites Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson 14 years since In Bruges, with their on-screen talent outshining all aspects of this peculiar picture. As well as this fantastic pairing tempting everyone into the theatres this week, the mysterious and bleak fictional island of Inisherin attracted many simply through the obscure trailer (me included). The movie follows Pádraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson) on a secluded Irish isle in the 1920s, as their friendship puzzlingly hits the rocks. With sounds of gun fights from the civil war across the water, a sense of dark foreboding hints towards the serious bust-up between the now frenemies.
After realising he wants to spend his days away from the tedious opinions of his lifelong drinking buddy, Colm gives an unsettling ultimatum to Pádraic, threatening to chop a finger off every time he tries to talk to him. Throughout the town Pádraic is known to be a bit…well…dull. The poor guy just doesn’t seem to have the most interesting topics of conversation but we can’t help feeling sorry for him in this unfortunate situation. Throughout the movie, Pádraic, his sister Siobhán (Kerry Condon) and eccentric youth Dominic (Barry Keoghan) search for a solution to heal the rift.
With lost friendship, solitude and loneliness as key themes throughout the near two-hour running time, the repetition of life on the island clearly takes its toll on all, as the dull colour palette of the Irish scenery cleverly reiterates the tedium of the everyday. The sound of the clock chiming throughout the movie signals Colm and Pádraic’s daily visit to the only pub for miles and the prying eyes of the town seem to give a more claustrophobic feel despite the miles of open field and sea surrounding them. Although some scenes produced a chuckle here and there due to moments of dark comedy, The Banshees of Inisherin isn’t a movie I’m crazy about. Maybe I went in with my expectations unattainably high after hearing from some that it was one of the best films this year. Unfortunately, I am struggling to agree.
Now let’s get this straight, it was nowhere near terrible. Stunning cinematography beautifully illustrated the remote island and the performance between Farrell and Gleeson was incredible. However, I felt it just began to pick up towards the end of the film. Some points were a tad too monotonous and slow but maybe I’m missing the point here? The movie portrays tragic alienation magnificently, to a point where some find it too much to bear, with bleak situations ending on a sombre note. I really wanted to enjoy it to the level others in the screening clearly did, with murmurs of praise filling the room once the credits emerged. Yet, it simply left me feeling empty inside, constantly questioning whether I loved it or hated it. Who knows maybe this was McDonagh's intention. It’s safe to say I am still undecided; however, this film definitely makes you think of your own isolation and appreciate the things you have- a full set of fingers, whole and intact, as one of them...