The Banshees of Inisherin            5 stars

One has only to look at the credits of writer/director Martin McDonagh that include In Bruges and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri to know that we must be in for a great story in the movie The Banshees of Inisherin and he certainly does not disappoint. This is a simple story about a friendship between two friends that ends and turns into something tragic. It is one that has been brewing in McDonagh’s mind going back decades. The two friends, Colm (Brendan Gleeson) and Padraic (Colin Farrell) live on an isolated island off the coast of Ireland and have shared conversations over a pint for many years when Colm suddenly wants nothing to do with his friend anymore because as he puts it, “I just don’t like ya no more.” The poor dull Padraic has no idea what it is that he could have said or done to upset Colm and is determined to make things right again. His smart sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and the local lovable dimwit Dominic (Barry Keoghan of The Killing of a Sacred Deer) also get involved in the conflict all to no avail. Colm is just as determined to avoid Padraic because he doesn’t want to waste his time on more meaningless chatter, and ultimately issues an ultimatum to show just how serious he is. The setting of the story in 1923 during the Irish Civil War is also significant as it serves to show just how dire the situation has become. The movie is described as a comedy which is true because there is plenty of witty and amusing dialogue between the two great actors as well as among the other actors. And there is plenty of use of the word “feck” in many contexts. But the movie is also a very serious drama in which the director manages to gradually raise the level of tension to the point where things are about to explode. Neither character can be labeled as the bad guy here but that doesn’t mean that things can’t get very tragic. This is actually the second time the pair of Gleeson and Farrell have worked with McDonagh to great success, the first being In Bruges back in 2008. Based on what I have seen The Banshees of Inisherin should be considered a strong contender for Best Picture of the Year. You should not miss it.