'The Banshees of Inisherin' film review: Farrell, Gleeson are sublime in dry, dark break-up tragicomedy
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are masterful as two drinking buddies who have a sudden falling out in the unexpectedly funny and wryly melancholic drama 'The Banshees of Inisherin' (opening in additional cities nationwide Oct. 28).
In short: Long-time friends Pádraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson) find themselves at an impasse when Colm abruptly ends their friendship. Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan also star.
One its most surface level, 'Banshees' is a wonderfully complex upending of social norms after Colm suddenly and plainly proclaims he no longer wants to be friends with Pádraic, who is admittedly "nice" but "dull." For his part Pádraic simply does not accept the end of their friendship. Colm is admonished for not being nice, simply for opting to end his friendship - while Pádraic goes through the stages of grief at the death of their friendship. 'Banshees' is compelled forward by the unstoppable force of Pádraic's desperation to mend their friendship versus Colm's immovable resolve to irrevocably cut all ties with Pádraic's - which escalates in a shocking ultimatum.
The utter simplicity of 'Banshees' allows the script and actors to dive into the depths of relationships and heartache. This is essentially a break-up movie, albeit one that escalates seriously. After presumably years and years of their daily routine - getting drunk at the pub - Pádraic is left to wonder why Colm suddenly wants absolutely nothing to do with him. He was utterly content in their routine and totally crestfallen when his drinking buddy doesn't even want to speak with him. Pádraic was content with his simple life and being a "nice" guy - but the story forces him to look inward and wonder what's so wrong with him that Colm would rather shun him than be his friend. Pádraic, and the audience, are left to wonder what prompted Colm's sudden choice. And to be honest, Colm's reasons ... are very reasonable - and no less genuine than Pádraic's shock and dismay. 'Banshees' doesn't take sides or vilify either Pádraic or Colm - the tragedy is the sudden demise of their relationship and the story is driven by the extreme steps they take to save or end their friendship.
Writer-director Martin McDonagh ('In Bruges' and 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri') has crafted a brilliantly complex drama that operates on various levels. The script's deliciously dry humor affords the film to take increasingly absurd twists. People in real life might declare some nonsense like "I'd rather be stuck on a desert island than speak to that person ever again" - but that's a patently ridiculous statement that no one actually makes good on. One of this story's characters make a similarly hyperbolic threat - and they make good on it. Everything about 'Banshees' is just exaggerated enough to make every choice and action hit hard - yet the script is firmly rooted in relatable humanity. The screenplay is highlighted by its humor and escalation - but McDonagh's story is fundamentally defined by loneliness and sadness.
'Banshees' is a dynamic relationship drama in its own right, but the fact that Pádraic and Colm's quarrel is set against the waning days of the Irish Civil War adds to this film's richness. Short history lesson: Ireland won its independence in 1921 from Great Britain in the Irish War of Independence, however, Ireland itself was divided over the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Irishmen who had fought side-by-side against British soldiers just years before now fought against each other. The Civil War - fought between the pro-Treaty government and anti-treaty Irish Republican Army (IRA) - ended in a ceasefire in May 1923. It's worth noting 'Banshees' takes place in April 1923. No character voices their political opinion of the Civil War - they only occasionally acknowledge the battles far from their sleepy village - but it's impossible to ignore the sadness and resolve of two former friends at odds set against the backdrop of a Civil War.
Final verdict: McDonagh's script builds from a simple premise and spirals into a humorous and tragic encapsulation of rejection and heartbreak. Farrell and Gleeson are frontrunners for the best on-screen pairings of 2022.
Score: 4.5/5
'The Banshees of Inisherin' opens in additional theaters nationwide Oct. 28. This dramatic comedy has a runtime of 109 minutes and is rated R for language throughout, some violent content and brief graphic nudity.
