The Banshees of Inisherin Movie Review

I knew going in that with the writer/director of “In Bruges” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” that “The Banshees of Inisherin” was going to be really good. What an understatement. What I got was exceptionally solid, better than any of the previous McDonagh movies. I couldn’t find a thing wrong with it, and I looked. I asked, will Gleeson and Farrell still have chemistry? Will the writing be as masterful as these other films? Will the story be as unique? I’m happy to say yes to all of these. Yes, but if you’re a fan of those films, you’ll be delighted to learn how far this new movie surpasses expectations.

Though Inisherin isn’t a real island, a few places the movie was shot are Inishmore and Achill Island, which are stunningly beautiful locations. Butterflies, birds and a miniature donkey named “Jenny” stir the imagination and brighten every moment of loneliness. The film has many comedic moments, coming mainly from the delivery of lines, but it can also get surprisingly dark at times. Director of photography Ben Davis (Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) makes sure you notice the darkness hovering over everything, figuratively and literally, by removing any sunlight. In one shot, he includes a massive grey cloud above the tiny island, partly, like the Banshee herself, to warn of what’s coming.

We start during the Irish Civil War, when Colm (Gleeson), a musician, first tells farmer and drinking buddy, Pádraic (Farrell) that he doesn’t like him anymore. Pádraic finds it hard to accept. The entire day Pádraic’s wounded heart can’t receive what it has heard. The next morning, he looks at his calendar and notices that yesterday was April first. Ah! His pal was playing a joke on him. Unable to accept that a friend on a small island of few people would no longer tolerate his company, Pádraic finds excuses to run into Colm to ferret out the truth. The truth is that his old comrade has realized that without Pádraic around, he gets more done. He no longer wants to chat with a limited man who’s dull and aimless. When Colm dies, he wants something to show for it. Sitting and chatting about cattle won’t achieve this goal. The last thing he wants to continue doing is hearing about Pádraic’s farm.

Pádraic lives with his sister Siobhan, played by Kerry Condon. She’s fantastic, by the way. Anyway, she sympathizes with Colm to a degree, but also with her brother. These two have been friends forever; why break up the pairing now when it wouldn’t be a very nice thing to do? Colm’s argument when it’s suggested he’s being mean is that music and paintings last, not uninspired friendships. He wants to be left alone and doesn’t feel he should have to give everyone on the islands an explanation as to why. When your friend, who plays the violin, is willing to chop off phalanges, maybe it’s time to believe he’s serious and leave him be.

Another great character is the young, dim-witted Dominic, played frighteningly well by Barry Keoghan. He loves Siobhan and gets into Pádraic’s business, mostly to get closer to her. Pay close attention to the storyline here. It’s unexpectedly moving.

What the movie boils down to are love and loss. The suffering we can control and the cost of what hope brings. In Irish folklore, the Banshee is a female spirit who trumpets the death of a family member, usually by screaming or wailing. Colm can see that the Banshee is sitting back, amused… watching and observing. He fears she’s there to take him. If there is a Banshee on the island, she does indeed foretell death, but of who and should this warning be observed?

As I alluded to earlier, the cinematography in “The Banshees of Inisherin” is gorgeous. You get to see the most spectacular sun, off in the distance,  fading away (like everything else). It sets a tone of its own.

In the acting department, there aren’t enough awards to be given to those who deserve one for their work here, and the script is arousing and clever. I can’t recommend it enough. Do not miss it and see it on the big screen! But as you watch, stay sharp. You don’t want dialogue to get passed you. Every word is gold but sometimes hard to grasp due to the thick Irish accents.

The film is showing at Harkins Camelview.