“The Banshees of Inisherin” Film Review
In my quest to begin making my way down the list of nominees for Best Picture of 2022, I happened upon “The Banshees of Inisherin” (McDonagh, 2022). I had seen it advertised on HBO Max, and although I’m a Colin Farrell fan, I didn’t think that much of it initially. I grew more enthusiastic about watching it when I learned that Brendan Gleeson stars in it, alongside Farrell, and if you’ve ever seen “In Bruges” (McDonagh, 2008) you might understand why—the two of them have unmatched on-screen chemistry.
The plot of “Banshees” is quite simplistic. Padraic Suilleaban (Farrell) and his friend Colm Doherty (Gleeson) live together on the tranquil island of Inisherin off the coast of Ireland. The residents of Inisherin are small in number, and relationships between neighbors are often strained and complex. One day, Padraic heads to Colm’s cabin near the coast to walk with him to the local pub, as is their typical routine. Colm refuses to answer the door, and several days later, explains that he doesn’t want to be friends with Padraic anymore. Colm quite obviously tends towards existentialism, and in the throes of his despair he takes drastic measures to cut Padraic out of his life and focus on writing music. Tensions escalate as Padraic makes efforts to continue interacting with Colm, and at one point Colm threatens to cut off his own fingers one by one if Padraic keeps approaching him.
“Banshees” is similar to McDonagh’s other films—take “In Bruges” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri” (2017) for example—in that its content is deceptively dark and grim, with unexpected moments of humor sprinkled in. (It’s definitely a black comedy, so keep that in mind if you decide to watch.) Unlike “In Bruges” however, “Banshees” flows at a significantly slower pace, and with a far less complicated plot (there’s something to be admired about that, too.) Although viewers preferring more action in films will be disappointed by “Banshees,” I would argue that its lack of reliance on action is a credit to McDonagh as a director and adds some variety to his otherwise thematically consistent filmography. Granted, I don’t think “Banshees” is as good a film as “In Bruges,” and I’d certainly like it even less if it didn’t star two acclaimed actors with a pre-established chemistry.
Given that, do I think “Banshees of Inisherin” is worth a nomination for Best Picture of 2022? Well, aside from its shortcomings, the film itself is stylistically aesthetic, and it doesn’t hurt that it was filmed on a beautiful island, which starkly contrasts with the narrative content. The scoring was also well done, in my opinion, with a focus on traditional Irish music, which reflects the somber reality of life on Inisherin—a gorgeous island, often less than affable denizens. I personally appreciate the dark humor and the opportunity to see Farrell and Gleeson in a movie together once more. However, as pleasing to the eye as it is, I doubt “Banshees” is good enough to compete with several of the other nominees for best picture. Will it win an Oscar? Maybe, maybe not. Should you give it a watch? I’d say it’s worth a shot.