Never have I ever been so conflicted and confounded by a movie, that I can only come to the recognition of the fact that human behavior is so complex and bewildering. And that is definitely a huge credit to Martin McDonagh who has crafted such a film that seems so simple on the surface, but reveals the intricacies of the human race. The Banshees of Insherin is another one of those films that reveals the dark side of humanity, and does so in ways that are entertaining, totally riveting, and heartbreaking.
The story of the movie revolves around the relationship between Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson) and Pádraic Súilleabháin (Colin Farrell). In the year of 1923, Colm and Pádraic have been close friends and drinking buddies in their Irish isle of Inisherin. Though the two have spent much time together, Colm has decided to cease relations with Pádraic, as he feels his one time friend is absolutely “dull.” This doesn’t sit well with Pádraic, and he pressures his Colm to continue their companionship. As Colm remains steadfast with his stance on their relationship, Pádraic’s obstinacy escalates this dissolution of friendship in ways neither party anticipated.
With The Banshees of Inisherin, Martin McDonagh has delivered what is most certainly his most engrossing film of his career. As writer and director, McDonagh paints a powerful picture of two striking characters who are in opposite positions in their lives. While the look of the movie captures the gorgeousness of the locale and the production and set crews have done a beautiful job of creating the scene, McDonagh’s development of the story and characters depict a darker and more ugly side of the humanity who inhabit such an exquisite setting. The movie works tremendously on so many levels, depicting the nature of men and how petty our emotions can make us sink.
The film features incredible performances by both Gleeson and Farrell, but can also boast tremendous work by Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan, and several others. This movie proved to be a very thought -provoking treat for Fantastic Fest and is certainly one of my favorite movies this year.