If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, says the old proverb. So when Martin McDonagh heard it, he said: “Alright then”, and called his best mates Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, the same duo that worked for him so well in his feature debut, In Bruges (2008). But this time around, they managed to create something that is the opposite of In Bruges. You see, In Bruges is a comedy first and drama second. The film is so good at combining these elements so elegantly that you will laugh, and then the dramatic bits hit you even harder. And this is where The Banshees of Inisherin comes in and flips it around; it’s a drama first with some funny moments. And it’s beautiful to watch.
One thing I loved about The Banshees of Inisherin is how complex this film is. Many dramas can be about “one big thing/theme”, but McDonagh likes challenging himself, so he came up with a simple storyline with incredibly complex themes that says a lot if you care enough to dig deeper. But here’s the kicker, you don’t have to. The magic of this film is it can be enjoyed on the most “primal” level, and you will still have a good enough time with all the performances, the story, the beautiful cinematography and the score without you having to go deeper.
It is the simplicity of the “main” story (what if your best friend suddenly stops talking to you) that allows this film to explore deeper themes, not only about friendships, but people, complacency, legacy, or what makes you a good person. All these themes are explored in this film, and they all get explored so effortlessly, at times, I thought to myself: “That’s not fair.” being as talented as McDonagh and firing on all cylinders, he makes it look that easy.
One thing I admire about this film is that there is no obvious “lead” actor. Sure, for the Academy Awards, it was decided that Colin Farrell was “the lead” actor and Brendan Gleeson was “the supporting one”. But honestly, watching the film, I wouldn’t blame you if you thought it was the other way around. I guess, technically, Farrell has a bit more screen time, but The Banshees of Inisherin is one of those rare films that have no apparent leading actor, and it’s all the better for it. What it has are four acting pillars the film stands on. The two actors I mentioned already, but we need to talk about Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan as both were amazing too. Come to think of it, the dynamic Colin and Brendan have in this film, Kerry and Barry had their own dynamic ongoing.
It is only now, thinking back about everything I realise that the reason Kerry and Barry’s characters worked so well together is they are polar opposites. Kerry’s character is strong, clever, ambitious and willing to do anything, even if she may be afraid. Barry’s character is meek, with little to no ambition, and he isn’t “as bright”, to put it mildly. But the main difference is where their characters end up. Without spoiling too much, I will say one sees where they could end up, so they try to change it, possibly escaping their situation. The other, not so much. On a related note, there were many memorable scenes from many more unforgettable films last year (2022), but the “proposal” scene must rank high on everyone’s list. That was a masterclass on how to take a beautifully written scene, and perform it with the honesty, heart and charm it deserves. In any other film, Barry’s character would have been the funny “village idiot”. In this one, McDonagh gave him some character, and he delivered.
Do I even have to mention how outstanding Colin and Brenda were? We have known both to be reliably excellent actors; however, it seems both have pushed themselves even further in this film. All performances in this film are more nuanced; I don’t remember one scene that would be your stereotypical “I shout my lines, give me my Oscar now!”. The Banshees of Inisherin is a big film in scope, the cinematography looks amazing, and the score is stunning, but all performances feel earnest, raw and solemn. You don’t see this every year, that four people would get nominated across three different acting categories for the same film, and it happened here. And it is so deserved.
One thing I would “warn” everybody about before watching this film – please accept it on its own terms. Given the hype, Oscar nominations and overwhelmingly positive reviews, many viewers may go into this film expecting one type of drama and getting this quiet, deliberately-paced Irish drama with some humour instead. Even in my experience, after everything I’ve heard about it, I was still surprised and had to sit on this film for a bit to get my thoughts straight. But I believe this is one of those heartfelt films that will only get better on repeat viewings. Sure, it might seem the same as the climate of this film, cold and harsh. But look slightly deeper underneath, and you will see how much it has to say about many things with sincerity and honesty that is rarely seen.
Overall, The Banshees of Inisherin is a film that will sneak up on you. When I say I had to think about all the different stuff this film was talking about, I am not joking. But it is so worth it. This film continues McDonagh’s impressive streak of excellent movies, and I can’t see him missing any time soon. And if you add four outstanding performances and beautiful cinematography alongside a great score on top of this movie, it surely deserves the praise it’s been getting. In any other year, at least two of these four performers would be the frontrunners for the Oscars. And for my money, it doesn’t matter which two, that’s how strong they all were. I can’t wait to rewatch it.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Until next time,
Luke