dennisdmcdonald
Joined Sep 2015
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Ratings16
dennisdmcdonald's rating
Reviews17
dennisdmcdonald's rating
Be prepared for a character study that focuses on poverty, despair, friendship and its dissolution, social isolation, leaving home and family, and late blooming ambition.
Also be prepared for drop-dead gorgeous photography, terrific music, and world-class acting.
Colin Farrell, in my opinion one of the most accomplished actors working in film today, plays his complex role with amazing subtlety. Brendan Gleeson provides another example of his impressive versatility. Kerry Condon portrays a balanced view of the long-suffering sister who must choose between her own needs and those of others.
Given the time (1923) and the setting (isolated island off the coast of Ireland from which gunshots of the ongoing civil war can be heard) there are many directions the film could have taken: social commentary, black comedy, farce, cute rural adventure, broad Irish stereotypes, etc.
Writer/director Martin McDonagh instead focuses on individual characters as opposed to all-out social or political commentary. Gleeson's character one day decides he doesn't want to be friends anymore with Colin Farrell's character. The results of this falling out take a tragic turn that many will find neither entertaining nor appealing (and certainly not funny).
Some might call this a "black comedy" but that's an overly simplistic label. "Tragicomedy" is probably more accurate. I did find myself laughing in a few spots, but these are few.
This is a character study that lays bare complex human relationships set against a time and place whose impacts are still rippling today.
Were I to compare this film's emotional impact to others I would probably select Paul Schrader's FIRST REFORMED or some of the films of Yasujiro Ozu, but BANSHEES OF INISHERIN stands on its own.
Also be prepared for drop-dead gorgeous photography, terrific music, and world-class acting.
Colin Farrell, in my opinion one of the most accomplished actors working in film today, plays his complex role with amazing subtlety. Brendan Gleeson provides another example of his impressive versatility. Kerry Condon portrays a balanced view of the long-suffering sister who must choose between her own needs and those of others.
Given the time (1923) and the setting (isolated island off the coast of Ireland from which gunshots of the ongoing civil war can be heard) there are many directions the film could have taken: social commentary, black comedy, farce, cute rural adventure, broad Irish stereotypes, etc.
Writer/director Martin McDonagh instead focuses on individual characters as opposed to all-out social or political commentary. Gleeson's character one day decides he doesn't want to be friends anymore with Colin Farrell's character. The results of this falling out take a tragic turn that many will find neither entertaining nor appealing (and certainly not funny).
Some might call this a "black comedy" but that's an overly simplistic label. "Tragicomedy" is probably more accurate. I did find myself laughing in a few spots, but these are few.
This is a character study that lays bare complex human relationships set against a time and place whose impacts are still rippling today.
Were I to compare this film's emotional impact to others I would probably select Paul Schrader's FIRST REFORMED or some of the films of Yasujiro Ozu, but BANSHEES OF INISHERIN stands on its own.
This not-for-the-squeamish movie screams FILM FESTIVAL:
It's also beautiful to look at in a dark and hellish way - assuming you can look past the blood and gore.
The only thing close to it in my memory is another prison horror-fest, "Brawl In Cell Block 99." That film revels in violence but is more traditional with its story and relationships.
This film makes no excuse for being allegorical, symbolic, and pretentiously thematic as we follow prisoners in a vertically stacked prison through which a large platform passes laden with food.
Those on the top levels get first pick of a sumptuous meal. As the table passes down through the levels the bounty shrinks to the point where those at the bottom get nothing but an invitation to unguarded cannibalism. Pleasant, huh?
Like "Snowpiercer" and "Parasite" we have a no-holds-barred illustration of class warfare with haves pitted against have-nots. The movie walks a fine line between obvious symbolism and faux profundity interspersed with bloody violence and cruelty. In its original Spanish, the English subtitles are well done and include cryptic gems like:
How allegorical you want to take all this is up to you. I saw it as less allegorical than as someone with a very strong sense of cinematic style tackling class warfare and selfishness in a brutal, angry, and very original way.
- high concept
- inscrutable
- daring
- unforgiving
- pretentious
It's also beautiful to look at in a dark and hellish way - assuming you can look past the blood and gore.
The only thing close to it in my memory is another prison horror-fest, "Brawl In Cell Block 99." That film revels in violence but is more traditional with its story and relationships.
This film makes no excuse for being allegorical, symbolic, and pretentiously thematic as we follow prisoners in a vertically stacked prison through which a large platform passes laden with food.
Those on the top levels get first pick of a sumptuous meal. As the table passes down through the levels the bounty shrinks to the point where those at the bottom get nothing but an invitation to unguarded cannibalism. Pleasant, huh?
Like "Snowpiercer" and "Parasite" we have a no-holds-barred illustration of class warfare with haves pitted against have-nots. The movie walks a fine line between obvious symbolism and faux profundity interspersed with bloody violence and cruelty. In its original Spanish, the English subtitles are well done and include cryptic gems like:
- "Relax, we're just passing through."
- "The Administration has no conscience."
- "The important thing is the message."
How allegorical you want to take all this is up to you. I saw it as less allegorical than as someone with a very strong sense of cinematic style tackling class warfare and selfishness in a brutal, angry, and very original way.
While the animation and CGI are consistently entertaining and at times impressive, the story quality and acting vary widely in this anthology series. At times I was reminded of reading issues of HEAVY METAL magazine and SLOW DEATH underground comics back in the day with its mix of sci-fi-infused sex, violence, and gore. Except now, production values are substantially enhanced via modern CGI and technology.
My favorite episodes: SUITS, GOOD HUNTING, ZIMA BLUE, and ALTERNATE HISTORIES. Otherwise, the quality varies with violence and gore substituting for story and characterization.
If you are like me a big fan of sci-fi animation as I am you know that if you spend enough time cruising VIMEO and YOUTUBE you can discover a lot of really clever and imaginative sci-fi and fantasy short films. What Love, Death & Robots does is put together a bunch in an easily binge-able collection. Still, I must admit my interest in endless chases and gratuitous violence and cruelty has diminished over the years. Nowadays my interests are more attuned to creativity, cleverness, humor, and characterization.
My favorite episodes: SUITS, GOOD HUNTING, ZIMA BLUE, and ALTERNATE HISTORIES. Otherwise, the quality varies with violence and gore substituting for story and characterization.
If you are like me a big fan of sci-fi animation as I am you know that if you spend enough time cruising VIMEO and YOUTUBE you can discover a lot of really clever and imaginative sci-fi and fantasy short films. What Love, Death & Robots does is put together a bunch in an easily binge-able collection. Still, I must admit my interest in endless chases and gratuitous violence and cruelty has diminished over the years. Nowadays my interests are more attuned to creativity, cleverness, humor, and characterization.