Say what you will about the films in 2022. It was the year we all got back into the movies, and plenty of people were drawn to the big ones. ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ (2022), ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022), ‘The Batman’ (2022), ‘Avatar: The Way Of Water’ (2022), and ‘Elvis’ (2022). Though those movies are loud and expressive, the one that took my heart for the whole year was Martin McDonagh’s ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ (2022). This quiet yet lucrative film blew me away, and it has still had me thinking about it today. Every aspect of this film is perfect, from the sorrow to the humor, this film is a canvas that has the most beautiful painting on it. 

‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ (2022) is a story about two friends where one side no longer wants to be dragged down by the other. It’s simplistic, I know, but it’s also mature and devastating in all the best ways. With this story as the back drop for the script, we get to see a whole new world of ideas played out. The sacrifice of something to grow another’s self worth is a major proponent. The fragile mindset of older men, and the unwillingness to change after so long. We don’t need to see the expressive past, we just get the cold and bitter present. There is so much more to see in this film outside of a friendship falling apart. The struggle and longing the mending, but not actually realizing what the results will be, or how nothing can ever be the same. It’s a brutal truth that McDonagh writes out perfectly. 

We get to play a tourist in the lives of Colm and Pádraic’s lives, but only for a moment. The film spans only a few days in these men’s lives, but it gives us a lifetime of knowledge. The reasoning for the fall out might be contemptible in nature, but the conviction behind it is resolute. We only know this because we get everything from these two men. The loud and the mutters. The silence tells a story in its self, and we get to experience it all from our own eyes. Movies like this don’t think less of the audience, and they give us the tools to understand and sympathize with the characters, even at their lowest ebb. With all the formalities aside, getting to witness a story of this magnitude on a scale this bijou-esk is truly a remarkable experience for any film lover. 

The whole idea behind ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ (2022) is that there is a finality to war, and there is always going to be a sense of loss. I know, this isn’t a war film, but at the same time, this picture has more to say than most anti-war films out there. The idea of a conflict with no definitive explanation is prevalent of course. The casualties of war are shown, and the innocence being lost. There are examples of the innocent dying or fleeing, while the battle between two opposing sides shrouds all judgment. Even by the end of this feature, it’s apparent how little has been accomplished with this conflict, and it’s obvious no one ends up the same. With the back drop of a military conflict off the coast, it’s very clear what this entire story is trying to say to us, and it rings louder than church bells. 

There is such a hilarity in ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ (2022) and you almost feel guilty understanding it. The parochial empire in Pádraic’s head is upsettingly hilarious, while also being tragically fleeting. The banter and discourse that adjusts the characters mindsets are often beyond dry, you cannot help but laugh at the outlandish remarks. On the surface this should not be a funny movie in any way. However, with Martin McDonagh behind the pen, he manages to deliver a well articulated comedy with so many moments of hilarity. You’ll find yourself crying many times from some great laughs, right along next to some tragic moments. Either way, you’ll feel a lot of emotions while watching this feature. 

The Irish are a proud people who always set their dignity first and foremost. Seeing the cinematic triumph of this culture is one of the more nurturing elements of watching these films. Martin McDonagh is obviously and Irishman himself, along with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan, and the remaining cast. This makes the entire experience that much more authentic and genuine. Other great films about the Irish that always have me thinking about their passion are films like ‘Bloody Sunday’ (2002), ‘The Wind That Shakes The Barley’ (2007), ‘Hunger’ (2008), and ‘Calvary’ (2014). There is so much heart from this side of the world, and their films truly show an impeccable craft. 

We are given the opportunity through this film to understand the spacial awareness of an island just off the coast of Ireland. From the pub, to the docks, to Colm’s and Pádraic’s homes. We get to observe, study, and recognize where everything is and the distance in between. Much like ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri’ (2017), this is a small location film, where there is not much extension into the outside world. There is plenty of groundwork lied down to help us view the setting, but none of this is shoveled onto us. The ossification in McDonagh’s writing is spectacular, and the way he is able to take such a beautiful location and make us privy to all of its charms is a talent in itself. 

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson both star in this tumultuous film, where both men a pitted against one another in a battle for no cause. Gleeson, being one of my all time favorites, delivers an agonizingly melancholic performance that drowns itself in its own mind. The way Gleeson expresses with no words only suits how impactful his voice really is. Farrell delivers a devastating and sympathetic portrayal of confusion and anger. His hilarity bursts out in so many ways, while we still feel sorrow for him as well. Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan also deliver some of the more emotional beats in this picture, and Keoghan’s dejected nature of love breaks my heart every time. This is one beautifully acted film, that really shows the heights of what a performer can do. 

There was a crime committed at the academy awards in 2023. ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ (2022) took nine nominations and zero wins. Say all that you want about the other films, I truly hold this as the finest film of that year. Martin McDonagh is a craftsman and a genius whenever he works on a film, and this is one of his best. The accumulation of a wonderful and well seasoned cast, with one of the strongest written scripts in years, plus a steady and gentle hand behind the camera leads to a project like ‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ (2022). I would be amazed to hear any sort of meaningful downside on this picture, because this is art at its finest.