3 Reasons why The Banshees of Inisherin was one of 2022s best films

Writer/Director Martin McDonagh is making a name for himself as one of Hollywood's best storytellers. His work in recent years includes ‘In Bruges’, ‘Seven Psychopaths’, ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri’ and 2022's ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’. Martin McDonagh has worked with actor Colin Farrell now on three separate projects with his work here in Banshees being his best yet. The film follows two friends Padraic (played by Colin Farrell) and Colm (played by Brendan Gleeson), as Colm decides he no longer wants to be friends with Padraic. McDonagh has gone on to describe the film as a "feel bad movie" and that’s exactly what it is, but in the best way possible. Banshees of Inisherin ended up being my favourite film of 2022. It's gorgeously directed and acted and leaves you with a feeling of melancholy as you begin to question your own relationships and where you are in life.

 
What did you feckin say? The script and the films narrative –

The Banshees of Inisherin benefits from its incredible script. The film has thought-provoking dialogue, delivered in proper Irish dialect, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the film. When describing the premise of this film, it can be quite a hard sell, but once you understand the time period, the characters and the film's setting, it all starts to make a lot more sense. These people are going through the most turbulent time in Ireland’s history and with this in mind, you can understand the lowered morale and angst among the characters and Ireland as a whole. This adds to the depth of the story without ever being a focal point, I admire that element of the film. Another strong section of the film for me is the relationship between Padraic and his sister Siobhan (played by Kerry Condon). Siobhan is very protective of her brother and as she wants to move on with her life, she feels responsible for him and his well being. It's really sweet and subtle in the way that it is handled, and I love these little touches. It adds depth without taking away from the film's core narrative and the relationships between the characters.

Inisherin is the place to be – the look of the film –

One of the highlights of the film for me is the way it looks and the incredible scenery. The gorgeous backdrop for the setting of the film makes it feel authentic and lived-in, which is hard to do especially with a period setting in Ireland. Director of photography and long-time collaborator of Martin McDonagh’s, Ben Davis (Seven Psychopaths, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), does a fantastic job of capturing the beauty of Ireland on film, with gorgeous sweeping shots and natural lighting used to elevate the film and its story. It’s understated in modern cinema just how important on-set locations are to a film, its execution, perception and overall story. The way Ireland looks in the film is bleak, which is a sign of the times but also hauntingly beautiful, which again is a huge part of the narrative thrust, and core themes of the film. It’s a testament to both Martin McDonagh’s expert, level direction and his relationship with Ben Davis as well as his sublime craftsmanship. The beauty of the cinematography really does elevate the film, as it teleports the audience right there to 1920s Ireland.

And the Oscar goes to… The Incredible cast –

Another element that has been praised is the incredible cast. All four lead actors have been nominated for an Academy Award (Oscar) this year in the respective categories. Colin Farrell for best actor, Brendan Gleeson for best supporting actor along with Barry Keoghan for the same category and Kerry Condon for best supporting actress. All four of these performances are worthy of the Oscar this year, they all feel so real and fit so well within the story. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson on-screen together is truly memorable, with their relationship and interplay creating the core focus of the film. They both sell the heartache of a friendship falling apart. Colin Farrell is relatable as Padraic, his anguish of losing his best friend is believable and quite tragic. Barry Keoghan is terrific as Dominic. His own battles and afflictions are given great depth in limited screen time, which is a testament to both McDonagh’s writing as well as Keoghan’s terrific work here in a supporting capacity. Kerry Condon for my liking, was my favourite supporting work from actress in 2022. She is so damn good here as Padraic’s sister Siobhan, stealing a lot of the scenes she’s in. The care she shows for her brother is sweet and one of the highlights of the film for me. The tremendous work by this impressive cast is a highlight of the film and one of the many factors that will draw audiences in, to see this modern masterpiece.

The Banshees of Inisherin is one of the best dark comedies or “feel bad” movies in recent years. Martin McDonagh does it again, creating a fantastic period drama, with excellent characters, scenery, and top tier performances from its immensely talented cast. This is my favourite film of 2022 without a doubt and is well worth your time if you haven’t already checked it out. Be sure to pick-up your copy from Sanity today, you won’t want to miss this one. The DVD and Blu-Ray both contain awesome special features including a making of featurette with cast and crew and never before seen deleted scenes. Features like this are why you need to keep buying physical media! 

Buy The Banshees of Inisherin here

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here