Page 48 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No_122

48 Issue #122 March 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

The Banshees of Inisherin

By Nikolai Adams have spent nearly every day (Gary Lydon), who treats both no more”, that are cleverly
with each other for as long as his son and Pádraic rather placed to foreshadow future
ails of a Waning
anyone can remember. . . but poorly. Perhaps most intriguing events (hence, the fatalistic
WFriendship
it seems like Colm has had is the wizened crone, Mrs. fairytale idea referenced in the
Coming off like a fatalistic enough of his dullness, which McCormick (Sheila Flitton), opening paragraph). And this
fairytale, Martin McDonagh’s has led to this Irish standoff. the most Banshee-like of all sharp dialogue is beautifully
fourth feature film, The Like a depressed puppy dog, the villagers. Often seen near brought to life by the cast.
Banshees of Inisherin (2022), or perhaps more aptly, donkey death and danger wearing black Farrell once again shows he is
has been deemed a pitch (and carrying a scythe-like
(as Pádraic loves his pet donkey a superb actor, while it once
black tragicomedy, whereas with all his heart), he continues hook), she is like the town’s again highlights
his other films (In Bruges, to sheepishly approach Colm, menacing oracle, gleefully
Seven Psychopaths, and Three attempting to figure out what foretelling of impending doom that it is about time for
Billboards Outside Ebbing, he has done wrong and how he to its superstitious villagers. . Gleeson to win an Oscar
Missouri) would more simply . who mostly try to dodge her. (2014’s Calvary, written and
might be able to win him over
be described as dark comedies, again. Instead of having some Everyone else you’ll meet, directed by McDonagh’s
or dramedies. from the store keeper, Mrs. brother, John Michael, is just
positive effect, Colm decrees one prime example). . . the pair
Subtly drawing symbolic ties that if Pádraic ever speaks to O’Riordan (Bríd Ní Neachtain)
– whose real job might just be building off of their chemistry
to the Irish Civil War of 1922- him again, he will cut off one
that of the island gossip, to the together starting many years
23 (it is set in 1923), as well as of his fingers. . . a startling earlier in the movie In Bruges.
the long lasting strife known as threat, as the man is a fiddler, one and only bartender, Jonjo
Devine (Pat Shortt), is utterly It is wonderful seeing Condon
The Troubles (which took place who, with his newfound time getting some much needed
between the 1960s to 90s), after the break- up, is looking memorable. praise (I stumbled upon her all
this divide is shown by way of to compose music that will last Though this might be
the way back in 2005 when she
muses Pádraic (Colin Farrell) long after his death. considered McDonagh’s least starred as Octavia in HBO’s
and Colm (Brendan Gleeson). accessible film – more dour
Littered with an array of Rome, and she has done stellar
Best of friends on a small Irish memorable villagers (a staple and severe in tone than his work in roles big and small
island known as Inisherin (a of any Irish feature), Pádraic previous efforts (which is both before and since). And
beautifully bleak fictional spends most of his time saying something), it is no less again, it is worth noting that
location), we never truly see with the sister he lives with, impressive. Keoghan nearly steals every
their glory days, for right from
Siobhán (Kerry Condon) – an With the same wit, irony, and scene opposite the likes of the
the beginning, the latter has intelligent woman and avid cleverness the playwright has above mentioned stars, his shy
made it wholly clear that their reader depressed by the island’s always written with, Banshees simplicity fused with lonely

friendship is done.
prospects, and dim-witted truly needs multiple watches, for desperation
Wanting a clean break, this is (though perhaps not as much there are seemingly throwaway
emanating through the screen
something poor Pádraic can’t as we might originally think) lines, the most obvious being and right to our hearts. It also
wrap his mind around (first Dominic (Barry Keoghan) an early sarcastic jab from doesn’t hurt that all of this is

thinking it was simply an April – an absolute scene stealer. Siobhán to Pádraic before
backed by the stunning if austere
Fools’ Day prank). Seeing There is also Dominic’s violent the whole hullabaloo begins, Irish island landscape. Lastly,
himself as a ‘nice’ guy, the pair policeman father, Garda Peadar “Maybe he just don’t like you
Continued on page 49