Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri – Three words: Grief, retribution, and redemption, like the three billboards in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri” carry the message of the film. The movie, written 
and directed by Martin McDonagh, is a riveting roller coaster ride between tragedy and comedy. There are lots of laughs by the audience in this story, reverberating with recognition of our flawed and too familiar human condition. The film showcases a gamut of themes: Murder, rape, cancer, racism, religious hypocrisy, divorce, alcohol abuse, police violence, and small-town life, yet the story focuses on the main character, as she experiences one of the five stages of grief, anger, in its most vengeful actions and full-throated voice. Mildred Hayes (played compellingly by Frances McDormand) strives to bring renewed attention to the death of her daughter, who was raped while she was dying and then set on fire. There’s absolutely nothing funny about that event, yet McDonagh expertly introduces characters and backstories weaving this tale of revenge in a small town and bounces between the two poles of comic relief and gut-wrenching sadness. I was alternately rooting for Mildred and appalled and surprised by her actions. The same was true of many of the characters. The cast, both leads and supporting actors, were perfect together. We recognize many familiar faces, sometimes in roles playing against type, whose characters expressed the dichotomies of good and evil which live in most of us. I must admit however, for myself, my tolerance for violence is waning in this culture of “murder porn.” Though I recommend this film, I fear as a society we are becoming anesthetized to violence, whether committed as a crime or in retribution.
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