Banshees of Inisherin
Another triumph from Martin McDonagh that I'm happy is getting a good bit of buzz, especially with 9 overall Oscar nominations. Gets a bit crazy as it goes along, but that should be expected with anything plucked from McDonagh's head. My wife and I went to the Aran Islands during our Honeymoon, so this was extra special to sort of relive those times with the scenery. Thankfully the story isn't the same. The recollections of the hellish boat ride through the North Atlantic to the islands, however, did seem to fit the mood a tad. The boats weren't even running the day before because the waves were so bad.
Which just goes to show how much heartier the people that live on islands like this have to be. The ocean is a cruel mistress and when she surrounds you, things can get a bit stir crazy. If you want to break up with a friend, so to speak, you really don't have anywhere to go to avoid them. There's only one pub. And so, let the craziness begin.
Colin Farrell, Kerry Condon and especially Barry Keoghan are the best parts of this. I do enjoy Brendan Gleeson quite a bit too, but usually when he plays a different type of character than he does here. McDonagh always seems to somehow get really great performances from his cast. It's no surprise they usually end with an Oscar nod or two. After McDormand and Rockwell won for 3 Billboards, and with four Oscar noms for the cast alone from this one, he'll have his choice of talent for his next project one would think.
I also learned about the Irish Civil War which was used as an allegory in the film and of which I had been ignorant of beforehand. Obviously was aware of the Troubles, but not what came before. Interesting Wikipedia reading post-film. We also ventured into Northern Ireland during our time on the Emerald Isle and the feeling was really quite different. We felt a distinct difference in how we were perceived there rather than in merry ol' Ireland. Same sort of tenseness I've felt in differnet part of the UK during our travels as well. Not sure why, not the same homey feeling as Ireland gave us. Especially Galway and Killarney, which were both lovely. But anyway, it's probably just because I'm French. And American.
Oh, and after the two long ass flights across the United States and over the pond to the aforementioned Isle and over to the Aran version out on a craggy bit of rock being constantly pounded by the Atlantic...the guy who drove us around in his cart and buggy was wearing...a New York Yankees hat. No matter how far you go, our sprawling culture has probably already beaten you there. We are the fucking Borg. Resistance is futile. But through all this mishmash of past, present and future comes some very good films. This is one of them.