Venice Review: Colin Farrell & Brendan Gleeson In Martin McDonagh’s ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’

deadline.com:

Playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh is up to more deliciously fiendish tricks in The Banshees of Inisherin, a simple and diabolical tale of a friendship’s end shot through with bristling humor and sudden moments of startling violence.

It world premieres in competition at the Venice Film Festival Monday. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and the small handful of supporting players make the most of the author’s vibrant prose in McDonagh’s first film since Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri five years ago.“I just don’t like ya’ no more,” old bear Colm Doherty (Gleeson) bluntly informs the younger Padraic (Farrell) when the two encounter one another at the pub where the few inhabitants of the tiny, bleakly beautiful seaside community above the pounding Atlantic inevitably spend most of their time.

One can only deduce that these men have spent endless hours with each other over the years — there are few options other than staying inside at home — and that they know each other inside and out.Venice Film Festival: Deadline’s Complete CoverageBut Colm means business.

He doesn’t want to explain or analyze his new state of mind; the most he says is that he’s tired of “aimless chatting,” that he just doesn’t “have a place for dullness” in his life and wants “a bit of peace.” That’s it, he’s made his decision and doesn’t feel like he needs to make any further comment.Given that it’s inevitable the men will continue to see one another nearly every day makes things a bit awkward, but Colm remains steadfast, shunning all friendly approaches.