Dog’s Movie House: “The Banshees Of Inisherin” A Wonderful Look At Ireland And A Soured Friendship!

“The Banshees Of Inisherin” refers to a song Colm is composing. A musician and music teacher of no small talent, Colm believes his work is more important than hanging about with Padraic. That he’s being something of a dick doesn’t occur to him at all. The friendship is more important to Padraic as Inisherin (the fictional island on which the story takes place during the 1920s against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War) as there is very little else to do in the small island community. Farrell is a marvel here, saying more with an expression at times than with a single word of dialogue. Farrell also has incredible comic timing and his reactions to befuddling situations provides some of the best moments in the film. He’s matched by Gleeson, who despite being the more articulate of the two, still has trouble verbalizing the reason for his seemingly sudden turn. That he resorts to self-mutilation to prove his point shows his own emotional shortcomings. The two actors, who paired together in “In Bruges” are excellent together.

The film also gets outstanding support from Kerry Condon as Padraic’s sister Siobhan, a woman dying to get out of this provincial and petty place yet fears to do so out of concern for her brother. She doesn’t understand the reasons for Colm’s decision any more than Padraic, but she respects the older man’s decision, knowing that nothing Padraic can do will change Colm’s mind. Barry Keoghan nearly steals the show as Dominic Kearney, the oft-abused son of the local constable and local village idiot. Keoghan manages to infuse Dominic with a certain melancholy along with the goofy line delivery and as a result, creates a character that is equal parts hilarious and tragic.

All in all, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is an incredible piece of cinematic entertainment that features a sharp script and direction by the uber-talented McDonagh, fantastic performances and a simple story that allows the complexities of the characters to shine through! One of the best films of the year! 5 Out Of 5 On Kendog’s Barkometer! So Sayeth The Kendog!

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