By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Some friendships can be costly and even painful. That’s the long and short message of the dark, dramady
“The Banshees of Inisherin” from director/screenwriter
Martin McDonagh (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”).
Set in the 1920s on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, "The Banshees of Inisherin" stars Colin Farrell ("In Bruges") as Padraic Suilleabhain. Padraic has been friends for years with Colm Doherty (Brendan Gleeson, "The Tragedy of Macbeth").
However, seemingly overnight Colm has changed. He wants to hang out by himself in the local pub and enjoy a pint or two and not bothered with anyone. So, when Padraic rolls in looking to enjoy their regular chit-chat and Colm abruptly stops him and says he wants to end their friendship, Padraic is stunned.
What happened?
Padraic didn't say or do anything to Colm to upset him, but Colm is left to spell it out to Padraic. He is tired of their daily conversations and now finds Padraic dull and boring. Colm tells him rather bluntly to just leave him alone, don't come around and stop talking to him.
Well, that hurts.
So much so, that Padraic turns to his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon, "Avengers: Endgame" and TV's "Better Call Saul") hoping she can patch things up between them. She can’t. Padraic doesn't get much help either from a young islander named Dominic Kearney (a terrific Barry Keoghan, "The Batman" and "The Green Knight") who has deep-seated issues of his own that stem from his alcoholic/abusive policeman father (Gary Lydon, "War Horse").
Dominic is kind of digging on Siobhan too, although even he knows he doesn't stand a chance with that woman.
All of Padraic's attempts do nothing to repair his friendship with Colm. The more he tries, the angrier Colm becomes. Padraic believes Colm is going through some sort of personal crisis, so he doesn't quit. That's his friend. Even worse, Colm tells him that if he doesn't “leave him be,” that he will cut off one of his fingers each time Padraic comes to see him.
It is not an idle threat. Colm actually severs his finger and throws it on Padraic's doorstep. Now, how is Colm going to play the fiddle?
When other fingers land at his door, Padraic's good intentions grow darker and more sinister. He threatens to burn Colm's house down, but not before Colm "accidently" kills Padraic’s beloved donkey.
"The Banshees of Inisherin" is an odd movie filled with memorable performances including a brief turn from David Pearse (TV's "The Serpent Queen") who plays a priest that has some choice words for Colm (Gleeson) during his confession.
The handful of lighthearted and laugh out loud moments are juxtaposed with grim and violent sequences. The cinematography is breathtaking too, but my goodness, those lingering shots of Gleeson's severed fingers and bloody hand just about overshadowed everything else for me.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at my new times of 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Look At This Trailer For
"THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
