(trailer review) - The French Dispatch

Over the years, as people began to learn more and more about my love for film, people often asked me "What is your favourite movie/film?" And I would always, always reach for this gem practically NOBODY has heard of or seen.  I would say 'The Royal Tenembaums' and every single time, someone would ask, 'what?' and I'll say the title again and then explain the film.  I would also state how funny it is and go over some scenes and some of the smallest yet hilarious things, but I always lost people and rightly so.  The Royal Tenembaums is a film to be watched and not explained.  A bit like 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', also directed by Wes Anderson.  It took me a while to get to watch it as I got to the drive-thru a little late and  the set-up wasn't working great at first.  But when I did eventually watch it although not as brilliant as Royal, it still carries his flavour.

This Trailer looks like Wes is at it again and I love it.  It does look like it is more Grand Budapest than Royal, but you can tell, it has Wes all over it.  His humour is quirky and dark.  He would touch upon really serious matters in a fun way without pulling you out of the movie.  Definitely one of my most favourite and overlooked directors.  A true artist.  Please tell me that shot with the people shooting at each other in black and white isn't comical and artistic at the same time? And to close off the trailer, "Don't cry in my Office" and the boy looks up and the sign says 'no crying'.  I can't wait for this to be out!!!

Directed by Wes Anderson and starring Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, Lyna Khoudri, Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, Stephen Park, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson

(film review) - Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Unless I'm attending a secret screening and on the off chance, I have not seen the movie trailer for the film I'm about to see, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY for me to sit down in a cinema and watch a movie I have no clue about.  That being said, a friend of mine told me to watch the trailer as it is funny, but I only went to see this movie because it was something different from the superhero and sci-fi movies I usually review.  I mean, c'mon guys, I do watch other movies, heck, I watch a ton of movies and a lot of them have not been reviewed on here yet, but as it is 2018, I'm going to do my best.  And with THAT said, this movie; I thought was some small town story about some small town issues of family dramas and something that doesn't interest me a great deal.  And boy was I right and soo damn wrong at the same time.  I'll explain.

3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri is about a white woman who lives in a small town who has some outrageously terrifying, horrific and brutal actions taken out on her daughter in which leaves her daughter dead.  Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand), having mourned for her child, puts up 3 controversial Billboards for the attention of William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), the towns revered Chief of Police which leaves the town divided.   Not only has nothing been done to capture the culprit, half the town side with Mildred whilst the other half are against her and her methods.  When mother's boy Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell) with a penchant for violence gets involved, things only get from bad to worse for Mildred while she does everything she can to get justice for her daughter.

I honestly thought this film was brilliant.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Very dark humour, in a crime film written and directed by Martin McDonagh which not only pulls on your heart strings but also makes you laugh out loud if you are not already crying.  I almost cried a few times because I kept thinking and putting myself in Mildred's situation.  The acting in this is great, Frances is excellent, Woody is excellent and Sam is also excellent.  I mean the acting is great all around and the dialogue is more than witty, not to mention very tongue in cheek, but the movie comes together very well.  Was shocked when it ended, but wasn't surprised.

A great film I would recommend to anyone who likes crime films and/or comedy.  I think the best way to think of this might be to think of 7 Psychopaths, same director.