We have seen numerous movies centered around the ending of a romantic relationship between a man and a woman. The Banshees of Inisherin is a rare and special film as it is about the dissolving of a (presumably) lifelong friendship between two dudes. If anyone has ever been dissed by a friend, it will definitely hit you in the feels, as the kids say.
The simplistic way writer/director Martin (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) McDonagh sets the stage is a master class of brevity. He gives the audience the maximum amount of information about our main characters with the shortest of brushstrokes. When Colm (Brendan Gleeson) tersely announces he no longer wants anything to do with his friend Padraic (Colin Farrell), it lands a real blow, despite the fact that we just met these two characters. The wounded look of Padraic’s face tells us everything we need to know. And then some.
Surely, Colm was only joking? Why, what reason would he just up and quit being Padraic’s friend? Since the two live on a tiny island in Ireland, it’s hard not to run into each other, especially at the pub. When Padraic presses for a reason, Colm’s reply is so blunt that it shocks him and the audience.
The way Padraic tries to go about his business while the pain and heartbreak of losing his best friend eats at him is gut-wrenching. The way Colm double-down on his ultimatums to be left alone is downright jaw-dropping. The way McDonagh tiptoes between hilarious banter and back to devastating drama is a real thing of beauty.
As good as Farrell and Gleeson were in McDonagh’s In Bruges, they somehow manage to excel past those lofty heights. The rapport and chemistry (or perhaps, anti-chemistry) between them is a sight to behold. Their scenes together showcase them both at the top of their craft and when they’re working with McDonagh’s wonderfully witty dialogue, it makes you cherish their bickering even more.
At its heart, the film is about stubborn men acting like stubborn men. However, there are times when we see the ripple effects of their ongoing feud throughout the town. Could the town (or perhaps the country, as the civil war is happening over on the mainland) be a better place if two men were able to set aside their differences?
The Banshees of Inisherin is a special movie. As much as I liked McDonagh’s In Bruges and Three Billboards, this one is a masterwork. It’s easily one of the best films you’ll see all year.
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