The Banshees Of Inisherin [Blu-ray]

*Contains spoilers* so you may want to read this after you've already watched.The movie is fantastic, with superb acting, and wonderful cinematography.As far as the plot/story that I'm seeing many complaints about... This film is set in April 1923 on a remote island off of mainland Ireland. The Irish civil war is in full effect which is referenced a few times in the movie. To me the story was pretty simple: two friends, one of whom suddenly grows apart from the other, go back and forth about the confusion Gleeson's character suddenly throws at Farrell. Gleeson wants to be left alone, and Farrell refuses to let the issue go. Gleeson eventually gets so fed up, that he threatens to cut off each one of his fiddle fingers the more Farrell keeps bugging him. I'll let you watch the movie for details, it's entertaining and humorous.My theory is these people live on an island with not much to look forward to other than drinking. Gleeson realizes this (perhaps alittle too late) and wants to make up for lost time with the remainder of his life. He wants to leave his mark on the world by composing a musical piece which will live on far after he is gone. Farrell (who is also depressed in a way) simply doesn't seem to understand why his friend can't stay his friend, as well as follow his passion in music. Kerry Condon (Farrell's sister) also displays bouts of depression/loneliness throughout the film. You can tell that the sounds of the war off in the distance elicit a sort of curiosity in the characters, as if they're missing out on another world. This leads me to believe they all feel stuck. Another character, played by Barry Keoghan, kills himself at the end due to his father's abuse, and a love rejection by Condon's character which solidified his decision to commit suicide. Gleeson also hints to Condon that he's inevitably going to kill himself, and cutting off his fingers is a way of keeping him "entertained" until then. After Condon decides to leave her brother and the island (making her way to the mainland by boat), and Farrell's best friend donkey dies from choking on one of Gleeson's dismembered fingers, Farrell is basically on a suicide mission for the rest of the flick.The very end of the film- Farrell burns Gleeson's house down with Gleeson still inside. That night Farrell goes home looking clearly depressed, having written a letter to his sister. The next morning the two men meet on the beach in front of Gleeson's smoking home with old Mrs. McCormick watching down on them from the smoldering house. Mrs. McCormick is the Banshee, an Irish mythical figure associated with death. She is there when Keoghan is floating dead in the lake, she's there after the house has burnt, she mentions earlier in the film about Farrell and Condon's parents having been dead for 8 years. Mrs. McCormick is "death," or at least there when death presents itself.My theory is Gleeson and Farrell are both dead in this scene. Gleeson mentions having not heard the guns and bombs go off from the war in the distance in a day or two. He was also clearly in the home while Farrell lit it up. I also believe Farrell killed himself the night before having been depressed after losing his friendship, his sister, and his beloved donkey, on top of living in the trap that is the island of Inisherin. It's a movie about being stuck, about avoiding your feelings, and about mental health.

I have to say from the start this is a very well done film. The Brendon Gleason and Colin Farrell are superb as are all the supporting characters. The only fault I find is with Padraic's (Colin Farrell) character arc. Padraic is a loving, friendly fellow who is suddenly shunned by Colin (Brendon Gleason) who has decided that Padraic is boring and doesn't want to be his friend anymore.Now from the start of that I'm thinking, well that makes no sense. What's wrong with Colin that he would decide that? Is he getting demented? But Colin tells Padraic he just doesn't like him anymore. He's boring. But Padraic, being the guy he is, wants to keep the friendship alive and keeps going back to Colin to try and appease him. But Colin, fed up with the effort, tells Padraic that if he persists, Colin will cut off his own fingers, one at a time.Well, of course Padraic thinks that's nuts. Who would really do that, right? Well, Colin would do it. btw, Colin's mental health is never questioned except by Padraic's sister, Siobhan. When Colin eventually whacks off all his fingers, Siobhan can see that Colin's out of his head. But Padraic persists in reclaiming his friendship. At least until, Colin takes his now amputated fingers and throws them against Padraic's front door. Unfortunately, Padraic's beloved donkey, "Jenny," eats one of the fingers and chokes to death.The death of his favorite farm animal, who actually had house privileges, is too much to bear for Padraic, and who could blame him? From then on, Padraic no longer has any desire to reconnect with Colin. Which is a good thing. The only thing I criticize is that, all that time being separated from Colin, Padraic didn't take the opportunity to read his sister's book collection. Here they all in the most rural setting possible, an island off the shore of the mainland of the Republic of Ireland, where the Troubles are unfolding, and Padraic doesn't do anything to change? His sister Siobhan's book collection is right there in front of him. He's been told by his bestie that he's boring. And yet, Padraic doesn't pick up a book and start reading? He's not illiterate. That's obvious. But if you love Colin that much, then start reading the news paper, start reading books. And you know what would have happened?Padraic would be interesting. So interesting that the books would change his life and he'd leave that nothing of an island called Inisherin and get a better life. Just as his sister Siobhan did. She leaves Ireland for England to get a better life.So that's my only complaint. The director has wasted the opportunity to save Padraic from the isolation the island condemns him to, to a life that will expand his horizons and give him friends who will appreciate him instead of the nutty Colin.It's billed as an Irish black-comedy, but it's more of a failed comedy at the end. Still, the actors do an amazing job. I just wish the screen writer and the director had a better vision of the character of Padraic. I could feel his faith in human kind. I only wish the director had done the same.

NOT A COMEDY

I'd like to give this film five stars just for the views. The stunning views. Were it simply a silent tour of the islands it filmed upon, I probably would.I don't mind quirky films, or quirky film characters. But a script that makes no sense to me -- that I do not enjoy.I felt for Colm at first. He seemed to be in existential crisis. An Irishman who is out of words. He simply is tired of the same conversations with the same friend and can't do it any more.But about a fourth of the way into the film or so, it takes a mystifying turn. Not in the mysterious old tales of Ireland way. Nothing about mists or mythologies. Nope. The characters simply stop making sense.There has to be some sort of internal coherence. I won't spoiler the story but why would Colm do what he does simply because someone spoke to him? He's frustrated: okay. His friend (Padraic, played by Colin Farrell) is dense. Okay. But that?From a certain point onward, it becomes a waiting game. The film revolves around 'will he or won't he' (Colm) hurt himself more. To me that is not entertainment. Then, we have the local policeman who won't stop punching or threatening people. It isn't presented with humor or as part of a plot. He just does it.Then we have the cliché mysterious elder woman who lives in a hut, alone. It is as if the characters are all thrown in together but no one has anything to say or do.Then the poor little donkey is hurt. I won't spoil that either but that's when I had enough. Apart from the scenery, really an unpleasant, incoherent film. Sorry.

Love this film