• I’m archiving the film after one viewing but I had some problems with it. It’s uneven. Franky there are too many very good scenes between great actors for me to ignore and not archive but I wouldn’t say I loved the film.
  • Such scenes of greatness include the letters read via posthumous voice-over by Woody Harrelson and associated scenes, the final scene and moments between Rockwell and McDormand, and the scene where Harrelson and McDormand are going at it and he coughs up blood literally on her. The reaction and scene is tender and perfect between two great actors. It’s a very good moment
  • Talented supporting cast includes Landry Jones (who is everywhere in 2017 including get out and Florida project) and Lucas Hedges (also in lady bird after Manchester by the sea breakout in 2016)
  • Most critics mention the Coen brothers and some Tarantino and I see it. Characters in McDonaugh’s world all talk the same and it’s not realism (though some of his scenes are really going for realism and some socio-political statement-). He’s not as consistent in his artificial word and not as brilliant as the coens and QT of course
  • Along with McDormand as an another obvious common trait with the coen brothers I think the Rockwell character has a ton in common with the Brad Pitt character in Burn After Reading. It’s not as efficacious here but he’s hilariously and consistently unintelligent
  • Travers adores the film—“renegade masterpiece” and 4 stars—I don’t see it—NYT says it “fits together too perfect” and says that as a bad thing—wildly wrong
  • Tonal shifts from one scene to next
  • Forgiveness is clearly a nice reoccurring theme. I see that thread
  • Odd musical choices for this town—isn’t really not believable that Rockwell would be jamming out to this music
  • One thing I do like is that in a big scene at the end with Rockwell and McDormand–McDonagh doesn’t bail it out by making it smooth. He never gives Rockwell the right answer or a smooth line which is consistent with this dumb character
  •  Dec 4, 2017 @ 22:01

viewing 2.0 in August 2018

  • There are entertaining freewheeling characters, flawed people spewing acidic often venomous dialogue from McDonagh (filled with “retards” “commies” “faggots” and “midgets”)
  • In one scene you’re behind McDormand– in another you’re not- it’s an uncomfortable ride at times. I do think there are tiny cracks where McDonagh blinks and talks directly to the audience–
  • certainly material and a film elevated by the talented actors, those three great voice-over letters from Woody
  • love the scene of Sam Rockwell’s character beating Caleb Landry Jones in one shot– it’s solid filmmaking for sure
  • McDormand is wondrously cast- a character of grit
  • the talking to her bunny slippers scene is a mess– as is the Peter Dinklage dinner scene- messy flawed stuff
  • it’s also a little tough to suspend my disbelief enough to believe there is nobody working at their police department at night in the scene where Rockwell comes back to get Woody’s letter
  • still have it a as recommend- can’t see it cracking the 2017 top 10