The Banshees Of Inisherin Blu-ray

*Contains spoilers* so you may want to read this after you've already watched. The movie is fantastic, with superb acting, and wonderful cinematography. As far as the plot/story that I'm seeing many complaints about... This film is set in April 1923 on a remote island off of mainland Ireland. The Irish civil war is in full effect which is referenced a few times in the movie. To me the story was pretty simple: two friends, one of whom suddenly grows apart from the other, go back and forth about the confusion Gleeson's character suddenly throws at Farrell. Gleeson wants to be left alone, and Farrell refuses to let the issue go. Gleeson eventually gets so fed up, that he threatens to cut off each one of his fiddle fingers the more Farrell keeps bugging him. I'll let you watch the movie for details, it's entertaining and humorous. My theory is these people live on an island with not much to look forward to other than drinking. Gleeson realizes this (perhaps alittle too late) and wants to make up for lost time with the remainder of his life. He wants to leave his mark on the world by composing a musical piece which will live on far after he is gone. Farrell (who is also depressed in a way) simply doesn't seem to understand why his friend can't stay his friend, as well as follow his passion in music. Kerry Condon (Farrell's sister) also displays bouts of depression/loneliness throughout the film. You can tell that the sounds of the war off in the distance elicit a sort of curiosity in the characters, as if they're missing out on another world. This leads me to believe they all feel stuck. Another character, played by Barry Keoghan, kills himself at the end due to his father's abuse, and a love rejection by Condon's character which solidified his decision to commit suicide. Gleeson also hints to Condon that he's inevitably going to kill himself, and cutting off his fingers is a way of keeping him "entertained" until then. After Condon decides to leave her brother and the island (making her way to the mainland by boat), and Farrell's best friend donkey dies from choking on one of Gleeson's dismembered fingers, Farrell is basically on a suicide mission for the rest of the flick. The very end of the film- Farrell burns Gleeson's house down with Gleeson still inside. That night Farrell goes home looking clearly depressed, having written a letter to his sister. The next morning the two men meet on the beach in front of Gleeson's smoking home with old Mrs. McCormick watching down on them from the smoldering house. Mrs. McCormick is the Banshee, an Irish mythical figure associated with death. She is there when Keoghan is floating dead in the lake, she's there after the house has burnt, she mentions earlier in the film about Farrell and Condon's parents having been dead for 8 years. Mrs. McCormick is "death," or at least there when death presents itself. My theory is Gleeson and Farrell are both dead in this scene. Gleeson mentions having not heard the guns and bombs go off from the war in the distance in a day or two. He was also clearly in the home while Farrell lit it up. I also believe Farrell killed himself the night before having been depressed after losing his friendship, his sister, and his beloved donkey, on top of living in the trap that is the island of Inisherin. It's a movie about being stuck, about avoiding your feelings, and about mental health. Read more

I have to say from the start this is a very well done film. The Brendon Gleason and Colin Farrell are superb as are all the supporting characters. The only fault I find is with Padraic's (Colin Farrell) character arc. Padraic is a loving, friendly fellow who is suddenly shunned by Colin (Brendon Gleason) who has decided that Padraic is boring and doesn't want to be his friend anymore. Now from the start of that I'm thinking, well that makes no sense. What's wrong with Colin that he would decide that? Is he getting demented? But Colin tells Padraic he just doesn't like him anymore. He's boring. But Padraic, being the guy he is, wants to keep the friendship alive and keeps going back to Colin to try and appease him. But Colin, fed up with the effort, tells Padraic that if he persists, Colin will cut off his own fingers, one at a time. Well, of course Padraic thinks that's nuts. Who would really do that, right? Well, Colin would do it. btw, Colin's mental health is never questioned except by Padraic's sister, Siobhan. When Colin eventually whacks off all his fingers, Siobhan can see that Colin's out of his head. But Padraic persists in reclaiming his friendship. At least until, Colin takes his now amputated fingers and throws them against Padraic's front door. Unfortunately, Padraic's beloved donkey, "Jenny," eats one of the fingers and chokes to death. The death of his favorite farm animal, who actually had house privileges, is too much to bear for Padraic, and who could blame him? From then on, Padraic no longer has any desire to reconnect with Colin. Which is a good thing. The only thing I criticize is that, all that time being separated from Colin, Padraic didn't take the opportunity to read his sister's book collection. Here they all in the most rural setting possible, an island off the shore of the mainland of the Republic of Ireland, where the Troubles are unfolding, and Padraic doesn't do anything to change? His sister Siobhan's book collection is right there in front of him. He's been told by his bestie that he's boring. And yet, Padraic doesn't pick up a book and start reading? He's not illiterate. That's obvious. But if you love Colin that much, then start reading the news paper, start reading books. And you know what would have happened? Padraic would be interesting. So interesting that the books would change his life and he'd leave that nothing of an island called Inisherin and get a better life. Just as his sister Siobhan did. She leaves Ireland for England to get a better life. So that's my only complaint. The director has wasted the opportunity to save Padraic from the isolation the island condemns him to, to a life that will expand his horizons and give him friends who will appreciate him instead of the nutty Colin. It's billed as an Irish black-comedy, but it's more of a failed comedy at the end. Still, the actors do an amazing job. I just wish the screen writer and the director had a better vision of the character of Padraic. I could feel his faith in human kind. I only wish the director had done the same. Read more

I enjoyed this movie. It is something to watch on a non-busy, non-hurried day to fully absorb it. It moves slowly but beautifully. The acting is very good and the ending scene is thought provoking, the characters representing more than shown at face value. I won't give that away though. As a side note, I never thought I would feel sorry for Colin Farrell. LOL His character is marvelous and Brendan Gleeson is always great. Read more

This is a movie you just want to end almost the minute you put it on. Its a very sad sad movie in every aspect from start to finish. Blah today's world where everyone needs to be liked, popular, whatever. Colm is just a sad horrible person deluded that anything he does in the twilight of his life matters. His belittling self absorption is pathetic. Like the sister said he's just as boring, if you don't want to be bothered go off and die alone. Padraic is an even sadder more pathetic person like most in this world today, just getting by. Most people just get by, probably alone, with little education, but here and life goes on no matter what you thought or hoped it would be. So what if someone doesn't like you, get over it move on. There are some great visuals of Ireland? The shot at the end on the beach with the sun is amazing, is that real? I wanted to like this but there are no likeable characters(except the donkey), maybe someday I will, but at least for now didn't like it all seemed pointlessly mean and meaningless. Read more