The Banshees Of Inisherin

Potatoeman · 18-01-2023 10:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120116783#Comment_120116783

I thought it was a Van Gogh reference, the artist mutilating himself but also a convenient excuse for not producing work as he is simply not that gifted. It shifts the blame onto Padraic for not leaving him alone.

18-01-2023 11:01am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120123521#Comment_120123521

Yes, that's very much my reading.

It's a film about despair - existential angst. Colm realised he will die some day and has created nothing. Blames Padraic, rather cruelly.

Then when he feels he still isn't creating anything of worth he cuts his fingers off so he can blame Padraic for that too.

Then with no fingers he feels liberated as he can't create anything anyway. But, having been flippant with Padraics emotions, he has lost his friend and has an enemy for life.

I wouldn't go deeper than that having seen his other plays.

Deusexmachina · 18-01-2023 6:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120123658#Comment_120123658

Not sure I agree. Van Gogh had a psychotic episode - that's different.

Colm is cutting off his fingers to hurt Padraic. It's a violent act which is full of hate.

However, I think the idea that he is deliberately stopping himself creatively is interesting and I had not thought of that.

sydthebeat · 18-01-2023 6:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120125538#Comment_120125538

Colm cutting his fingers off didnt hurt Padraic. What hurt padraic was the little donkey dying because colm had cut his fingers off, and Padraic role in that.

the van gogh reference is not about what led van gogh cut off his ear, but more about the legacy of van gogh as the wounded tortured artist, which goes hand in hand with his art.

i think colm realised his wasnt exceptional, the islanders certainly didn't treat him as exceptional, so the self mutilation was a route he himself chose to go down with (a maybe subconsciously) thought towards him having to suffer for his art.. and that perhaps he may be remembered a well as a tortured artist... because his opus alone wasnt going to be good enough.

Tony EH · 18-01-2023 6:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120125538#Comment_120125538

I think it's quite clear that Colm is going through a "psychotic episode".

sporina · 19-01-2023 12:45am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120125538#Comment_120125538

well, wouldn't one have to be a bit "mad" to chop off ones own fingers?!

and I don't think he hated Padraic.. he just took his own frustrations out on him (prob cos he thought he would be passive aggressive.. until Jenny got hurt that is - ekk)

JP Liz V1 · 19-01-2023 8:20pm

10 Bafta nominations

iffandonlyif · 24-01-2023 2:43pm

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/2023/01/20/yes-the-banshees-of-inisherin-is-up-for-10-baftas-but-is-it-just-more-martin-mcdonagh-shtick/

Probably the most high-profile criticism of the film.

Brock Turnpike · 24-01-2023 2:54pm

Condon

Keoghan

Gleeson

Up for Oscars

Shelga · 24-01-2023 3:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120150781#Comment_120150781

And Colin! 🥳

Man Vs ManUre · 24-01-2023 3:24pm

I predict this film will not win any of the best/supporting actor and actress awards. It will probably win screenplay. And I don’t think it will win best picture or best director.

JP Liz V1 · 24-01-2023 3:35pm

Up for 9 Oscars

24-01-2023 3:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120151019#Comment_120151019

Almost correct I think. The Fabelmans will win best picture and director despite it being one of Spielbergs least memorable films and nothing special by any means, but it's the safe Hollywood choice and he has credit in the bank.

Fraser will win best actor because of the guy patting his ass all those years ago. In fairness he deserves some good luck after the blacklisting for so long.

Angela Basset will get best supporting actress because she is the only black actor or actress up for nomination.

BUT I have a feeling that Brendan Gleason will get best supporting actor. He is well liked in America, and has paid his dues.

sporina · 24-01-2023 4:03pm

woo hoo

xper · 24-01-2023 6:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120151246#Comment_120151246

Gleeson definitely does the recognisability at this stage to go along with the actual merit for getting the nod but does having two actors from the same film in the same category inevitably split the vote somewhat among the voters who might admire the film overall?

iffandonlyif · 24-01-2023 6:40pm

Am I the only one who found Condon utterly unremarkable? Cry a little in bed and say ‘aren’t ya a right bollocks’ and you get an Oscar nomination.

johnny_ultimate · 24-01-2023 6:41pm

I think Gleeson and Keoghan may primarily struggle because Ke Huy Quan has become such a runaway favourite across other 'awards season' awards - few other categories have such a clear frontrunner.

I'd say in general Farrell and Condon are in with a decent chance in their respective categories, so I wouldn't count them out. But Farrell has Butler & Fraser to contend with (I would not be at all surprised if it went to any of those three), while Angela Bassett has a fair bit of momentum currently. But who knows - it's all just speculation at this stage.

I certainly would not count it out in best picture, since it's a very random grab bag of films with no obvious consensus pick - Everything, Everywhere... perhaps having a slight edge over the others. I'd be surprised if Banshees didn't win screenplay, though - that seems like the most obvious category where it would win.

tobefrank321 · 24-01-2023 9:52pm

The Oscars have become a bit of a running joke at this stage and the 9 nominations prove it for me. This is an average film at best. Some will like it, some won't. There's no doubt Gleeson is a good actor, but he plays a very similar role in many of his films, angst-ridden, persecuted, dry wit, etc. He was hardly stretching his abilities in this one. The screenplay started well, but ran out of steam half way through as did everything else with the film.

It feels like McDonagh, Spielberg, etc can serve up anything and the Americans will love it and it will get loads of nominations and awards. A lot of recent, lauded Spielberg films have also been average at best.

24-01-2023 10:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120152110#Comment_120152110

You should work for the bookies - they have Ke Huy Quan 1/10 favourite for best supporting actor and Gleeson is second favourite at 11/2.

Basset 4/9 on to win as well.

Potential-Monke · 25-01-2023 12:08am

Just got around to watching this last night. I enjoyed it. The script and performances were brilliant, and they just nailed the chemistry. It's funny in a stupid manner imo. But I felt it kinda lost it in the end, even though I had no idea how it would go. My mother, a dressmaker, mentioned they were all too well dressed for the time, and I think she kinda has a point, they were very clean looking for people living in near poverty on an island. But I still enjoyed it.

However, after seeing it, I believe it's a pointless film. As in, it doesn't go anywhere and feels like an extended short story. But I also don't get all these hidden references and artistic things that critics et al get. But that's just my view. Preferred his other films. And even though he was only exec producer, The Guard is better. Feels like a story was told in the other films. In this, not so much imo.

Dontfadeaway · 27-01-2023 1:33am

I feel like I missed something, it was awful silly. If it wasn’t for the big names attached, It would probably go unnoticed.

Still great to see the Irish doing well at the Oscars though.

MattressRick · 27-01-2023 2:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120153828#Comment_120153828

I agree with this. I said as much watching it that they were very clean looking and very well dressed. I was thinking I'd love to live there at that time because everyone and everything looked so clean. But it would have been anything but.

I also thought it was a good film but cannot understand the number of nominations. At the time of watching I thought Barry Keoghan played his character well but everyone else I thought just did fine.

Storyline was good and the ending was full of suspense wondering who was going to die, but I don't think the suspense will be there on a second watch. Plus the finger cutting thing was ridiculous and was so visibly graphic, coupled with the film being just ok in my mind, that it'd put me off watching the film again. Overall I don't see the film as worthy of a nomination or any of the actors, so I can't see me bothering to rewatch it.

Is this just a bad year for good movies?

DownByTheGarden · 27-01-2023 7:21pm

I watched it last and ..... meh!

saabsaab · 27-01-2023 10:57pm

The people were clean and reasonably dressed back then in the West. Were people expecting rags it wasn't famine times.

sporina · 27-01-2023 10:57pm

Colin will 100% win best actor.. and twill prob get best screenplay

Man Vs ManUre · 27-01-2023 10:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120167922#Comment_120167922

No way, he is 3rd fav now so no chance. I still think the Elvis lad will win it.

MattressRick · 27-01-2023 11:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120167921#Comment_120167921

That's fair enough if it's the way they were across the islands

evolvingtipperary101 · 28-01-2023 2:00am

At the end of the day, the popularity of the film (and McDonagh) is due to how it appeases Irish stereotypes in England and Anglo-America. It is still safely within Hollywood Irish stereotypes of the quiet man unable to express himself emotionally that erupts in violence.

Joyce wrote novels a hundred years ago that destroyed these English stereotypes of Paddy and his pig and his inability to be intelligent and reserved and yet here we are... sigh...

I think this sums up McDonagh's shock portrayals of Irish people. It's all very gimmicky and violent but it's fun. How it's taken so seriously to be award worthy is beyond me though. A sign of the current state of film?

The new McDonagh film...

saabsaab · 28-01-2023 4:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120168508#Comment_120168508

I think it could be seen as a sly dig at the stereotypes really. Like the over the top cutting off the fingers. It begs to not be taken at face value and that is why it has done so well.

sydthebeat · 28-01-2023 4:24pm

Yeah, some people don't get the 'absurd' aspect of 'absurd comedy'

evolvingtipperary101 · 28-01-2023 9:50pm

It's a black humour. There's nothing really absurd going on. It's perhaps closer to a theatrical type of black humour that for my money works really well in theatre but not so well in film. But I don't see anything absurd in McDonagh's work. Absurd borders close to surrealism. I can't see that here. It's trapped between humour and reaching for something more but lacks the clarity and intellectual capacity to go beyond. McDonagh's work itself is limited by the same overly masculine properties of boys don't cry or being unable to express emotion - there's nothing delicate or beautiful drawn here. I don't think it gets past humour which is fine. I liked it but there is much better film work out there. This is hardly Michael Haneke or the Coen Brothers.

But to suggest that someone doesn't understand something because they don't share your opinion is kind of absurd.

saabsaab · 28-01-2023 10:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120170967#Comment_120170967

Nothing delicate or beautiful? I think there is, as for the Coen brothers they are crude in comparison and that's saying a lot!

Table Top Joe · 29-01-2023 12:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120170967#Comment_120170967

"But to suggest that someone doesn't understand something because they don't share your opinion is kind of absurd."

I'm seeing this a lot of this here, on Twitter, Facebook etc....."you don't get it", "you really need to be paying attention" as if we're dealing with a layered, nuanced piece of art when its far from it.

What the script reminds me of more than anything else is writing essays back in the day for English class, throw in a load of nonsense and when you get to the end of the required 2 pages.."I woke up and it was all a dream".

McDonagh is a lazy writer, he writes himself into corners that he cant be arsed to write himself out of(or doesn't know how to), to see people finding substance in this tripe is incredible really, biggest case of emperors new clothes I've ever come across in film.

Once again (since I posted it before), he has admitted he threw in the fingers cutting part of the "plot" for shock value, he didn't give it anymore thought than that.....to see people claim it means anything else is just cringe tbh.

evolvingtipperary101 · 29-01-2023 4:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120171247#Comment_120171247

Modern cinema is dominated by The Coen Brothers. Their influence is everywhere. You'll find them on every list of top contemporary directors- usually in the top five/ten. You wouldn't get McDonagh in the top 100 and that is correct.

Joel & Ethan Coen - Shot | Reverse Shot - YouTube

evolvingtipperary101 · 29-01-2023 4:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120172823#Comment_120172823

I agree to an extent. I don't think McDonagh's work is as limited as that. I wouldn't say he is lazy. But it is limited because, you're right, he hides behind humour and ambiguity too much. Now, that's been launched at the Coen brothers too in some films but they launched beyond that for me. Besides, the technical ability and artistic brilliance of their film making, across a broad spectrum of different genres, is on another planet to McDonagh. But not everyone needs to be or can be the Coen bros. But there are levels to film making.

berkingdom · 29-01-2023 7:47pm

Many people thought " Blonde " was unwatchable. I think the Banshees is unwatchable. It feels like Martin McDonagh had some ideas to write a screenplay about two friends falling out but he didn't know what else to write. We never understand their friendship cos we never get a glimpse of it so we understand why Paedric was so upset. There is no character developments, all the characters are underwritten. There are some dynamics in the village but nothing fleshes out. All we get is some stereotypical, caricature of Irish villagers as if It is not written by an Irish but feels like written by a non-Irish who imagines how the Irish would be. I really dislike the idea of the " if you talk to me again I will cut my fingers" thing. I was screaming at the TV "just stop it ".

There are only two goods about the film, Kerry Condon and its cinematography. The worst thing in the film is Colin Farrell. People call this performance settled, I call it dull. He looks as if he is sucking a lemon while he is sleepwalking.

The film got 9 Oscar nominations ( what ???), and It will get nothing. Its best shot is the original screenplay because cos They didn't give him the award in 2018 and he won't get the best director but TAR, EEAAO, and Triangle of Sadness (or even the Fablemans ) are much stronger in this category and the other categories are almost locked. Colin Farrell ?? No, he is not getting an oscar either. If you look at the previous oscar winners you will see Colin Farrell's performance is way too "settled".

Some people think TAR is overlong and boring but this is how you write and explore a complex character. The Banshees lack a proper, well-written character and a plot.

I really like in Bruges and Three Billboards but The Banshees is super disappointing. Sorry, Martin.

FixdePitchmark · 29-01-2023 9:50pm

Was thinking I was having a cranky senior moment not getting all the hype. Delighted for everyone involved with the Oscars - but it isn't even in my top 10 all time Irish movies. In fairness they are doing a style of movie that we are not that familiar with on Irish land. But , I find the comedy and seriousness in this movie an uncomfortable mix.

The idea of it being an allegory with the civil war is interesting idea - this had great potential , but the ridiculous story line and poor plot make this a bit of a stretch.

Anyway - happy to see that I wasn't alone not getting it. Seems to be a group think on stuff lately. "Best movie ever", got loads of Oscar nominations , must be brilliant ?

Also - how does this whole IMBD rating work. Seem to be certain films that can get very high markings from the off.

saabsaab · 29-01-2023 10:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120175027#Comment_120175027

Anyway the Oscar is overated. Any film (most) are not great to watch really.

pixelburp · 30-01-2023 7:22am

When the Oscars get it "right" it is purely a coincidence. It is a total bullshít ceremony that often rewards mediocrity at best, is easily manipulated (hello Driving Miss Daisy and all films of that ilk); while the list of great actors or films who never even got a single nomination let alone a win, would be as tall as the Spire on OCS.

Never pay attention to the Oscars as a barometer of a previous years best films. Or indeed aggregators whose flaws are even more pronounced and skewed.

sporina · 30-01-2023 1:03pm

Q did Colm get to complete his piece of music (legacy) before chopping off all his fingers? I can't fully recall

murpho999 · 30-01-2023 3:18pm

What the hell is with this thread and bashing the film? Just a trend?

Some ridiculous comments here about the acting and the story.

Easily one of the best films I saw in 2022 and it's nominations are deserved and I'll say it will pick up some.

The narrative here that it appeals to Americans who think of Ireland as shown in The Quiet Man are so wide of the mark.

I think it does a good job of showing what life was like on an Irish island 100 years ago, what do people think it was like?

El Duda · 30-01-2023 6:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120167922#Comment_120167922

Not a chance

sydthebeat · 30-01-2023 6:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120177698#Comment_120177698

its simply old irish begrudgery.... island life was very similar to the depiction in the film during the 60s, nevermind the 20s

Table Top Joe · 30-01-2023 6:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120178559#Comment_120178559

Ah begrudgery, this is progress of sorts, its better than the patronising "some people don't get all the layers in the story" kind of response I suppose

But eh....go check out the thread for An Cailin Ciuin, people are positively creaming themselves for the film, the love for it is almost unanimous last I looked, no begrudgery there at all it seems!

I reckon some people think Banshees is a bit crap for no other reason than...its a bit crap

As far as the costumes etc go...that was the least of the movies worries imo

sporina · 30-01-2023 9:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120177067#Comment_120177067

anyone?

evolvingtipperary101 · 30-01-2023 9:19pm

It's not an accurate depiction. A lot of the language wouldn't have been used back then. McDonagh was certainly not going for accuracy of the age.

A lot of comments lauding the film give very little reason to back it up.

I said I liked it. But, in my opinion, it's simply not a great film by any means. And not a very good one either.

There's only one thing more worn out than begrudgery and that's dismissing criticism as begrudgery. And continuing on a ridiculous idea that begrudgery is somehow an Irish thing is just... shite to be fair.

It's right up there with people who say, 'That's a bit too Irish now.'

joeguevara · 30-01-2023 9:21pm

3F4D74EE-D202-42DF-BAB6-5A58212F15EA.png

Think this quote by Jung sums up a lot of the film. The sister was the only one to invite and talk (instead hiding behind walls) and the only one who dealt with her issues. If you also look at Gleason from the beginning of the film to the end he becomes more and more dressed in black (long coat and hat).