Troubles with a Capital "T"

 

The one sheet above says it all: a title that is a bit perplexing, although inviting, might make one wonder whether Martin McDonagh's latest effort is worth seeing. Yet the presence of two marvelous Irish actors, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reassures that, if nothing else, having them in the film makes it worth a watch.

That's McDonagh in a nutshell. His films are always interesting, if a bit maddening. The meta-data in HBO Max tagged this as "comedy" and "drama". McDonagh's version of "comedy" is have a few laughs on the way to a deadly serious outcome. In fact, I found myself cringing more than laughing as Farrell's character Padraic, attempts to undo the puzzle box he is given right at the outset of the film.

Two men living in a somewhat picturesque, but depressing backwater town on an island in Ireland are best mates. Until they aren't. One day Gleeson's character Colm tells Padraic that he no longer wants him as a friend. Just like that, setting in motion a freight train to a small kind of Hell that it is unstoppable as it is brilliantly plotted and acted.

To quote Edward Albee, Padraic's obsession with finding out 'what happened', and the tragic consequences that ensue, are a "historical inevitability". Of course Padraic asks, and Colm in almost gentlemanly fashion simply replies that he doesn't want Padraic as a friend anymore. Both the viewer, and Padraic can't accept that answer and must know the real reason.

Unfortunately

In the end, what starts as an almost comedic, well, "romp" would be too strong a word, ends up as a Tragedy of minor Shakespearean proportions. I won't spoil the review by saying what the reason ends up being, only to say it is very, very sad. And, I also won't spoil by saying where everything ends up, but will say that the small drama taking place in Inisherin seems to echo (in allegorical fashion?) the larger conflict taking place across the water. This is 1980s era Ireland, after all.

McDonagh is fine film-maker, which shows in the overall mise-en-scene, here. He and his DP photograph the stunning Irish landscapes with clarity and eschew the sentimentality that sometimes accompanies "small town Ireland/Wales/Scotland" films. The script and acting are all superb, with Oscar-nominated Farrell and Gleeson showing why they are two of the finest their country has to offer. Farrell's sister is ably played by Kerry Condon and the wee lad who plays the town "idiot" nearly steals the show.

But the main event here is the story -- comedy deftly transformed into tragedy -- and the character development of Padraic and Colm.