Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

What a powerful movie this was. It is definitely not for the faint at heart or those who might be disturbed by the use of the F word. Set in a very rural town of Ebbing, Missouri, it is the portrayal of a woman who has lost her daughter to burning in a fire after being raped. Her frustration with the local police results in an emotional act of renting 3 billboards that brings the police department and the sheriff to task for their lack of progress in solving the crime. Throughout there is depiction of rural racism, police brutality, alcoholism, marital strife, and empathy for the victim's family. Frances McDormand is beyond outstanding in her role as Mildred Hayes, as is Sam Rockwell playing the racist cop. Academy award nominations for sure.

Cast

• Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes
• Woody Harrelson as Sheriff Bill Willoughby
• Sam Rockwell as Officer Jason Dixon
• Abbie Cornish as Anne
• Caleb Landry Jones as Red
• Kathryn Newton as Angela
• Clarke Peters as Abercrombie

Director

• Martin McDonagh

Lady Bird

What begins as a very typical mother-daughter ritual of visiting a college, soon turns into a testament of wills. Christine (aka Lady Bird) is a spunky teenager trying to find her voice and self at the same time her mother puts her down for most anything she can.The struggles and angst are most authentic. The desire to go to college across the country is understandable and life changing.



Cast

• Saoirse Ronan as Christine "Lady Bird"^[a] McPherson
• Laurie Metcalf as Marion McPherson
• Tracy Letts as Larry McPherson
• Lucas Hedges as Danny O'Neill
• Timothée Chalamet as Kyle Scheible
• Beanie Feldstein as Julianne "Julie" Steffans
• Stephen McKinley Henderson as Father Leviatch
• Lois Smith as Sister Sarah Joan
• Jordan Rodrigues as Miguel McPherson
• Marielle Scott as Shelly Yuhan
• Odeya Rush as Jenna Walton
• Jake McDorman as Mr. Bruno
• Laura Marano as Diana Greenway
• Kathryn Newton as Darlene
• John Karna as Greg Anrue
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Director

• Greta Gerwig