The Banshees Of Inisherin reunites In Bruges stars Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell.
Martin McDonagh’s ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ has an intriguing premise: Imagine you live on a small island off the coast of Ireland. Not only does everyone know your name, but they all know your business as well. This means they all know that your closest lad has abruptly informed you he no longer wants to be your friend or have any further interactions whatsoever. It’s a highly bitter breakup, with as much comedy as tragedy.
Colin Farrell is Pádraic, the one being dumped, and Brendan Gleeson is Colm, the one doing the dumping. Colm is very clear about his reasoning: he doesn’t have anything to gain from the relationship and feels his artistic methods are being hampered. On top of that, it doesn’t help that Pádraic is rather, well, dull.
The performances are astounding on both sides.
Gleeson plays Colm with a calm sense of directness and purpose. He rarely raises his voice and seems entirely at peace with the decision his character is moving forward with, although you can’t help but wonder what’s really going on in his mind that he isn’t making public. Farrell’s Pádraic is persistent and unable to accept this sudden turn. Farrell adds a certain chaotic energy to his character. He’s a ticking time bomb, and you want him to move on, but you know it’s not that easy. Fans of Colin Ferrell recognize this already, but ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ leaves no doubts: wacky Colin Farrell is the best Colin Farrell. The freedom Farrell has in the role makes this his best performance yet.
It has become cliche to say that (insert random inanimate object or location here) is like a character in a movie. However, the stunning landscapes of the Irish islands bring so much more to the film than just a lovely landscape. The lush green fields, stone walls, and rocky paths accentuate every beat of the film, regardless of how funny or melancholy the tone has become at any given point.
Great acting and setting are one thing, but the themes that McDonagh brings to his story round out the package perfectly. First, of course, there are the obvious ones: the inability to let go, the values of friendship and family, to name a few. But it’s the subtle exploration of depression and its effects on someone, especially when the symptoms aren’t obvious, that really brings power to the message. McDonagh’s writing and direction are seamless, and we hope he has more collaborations with Gleeson and Farrell in the future. Let’s please not wait another 14 years as we did since ‘In Bruges,’ ok?
Verdict
I give ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ 4.5 out of 5 stars. It is a finely crafted film with expert performances from Farrell and Gleeson. Come for the beautiful landscapes and stay for the excellent character drama. Do you Vouch for it? Read more Reviews on Nerdtropolis and Subscribe to our YouTube.
