The Banshees of Inisherin

The Banshees of Inisherin (Martin McDonagh, 2022)

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Rating: Q=8, P=6 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Complex Relationships, War, Mental Health, Ireland, 1920s, Dark Comedy

There aren't many films being made today that can pull off a gut-wrenching, serious drama and also makes you laugh and cringe. Martin McDonagh does this masterfully with The Banshees of Inisherin. He has captured the stark, lonely, and also beautiful setting of Inisherin and shows us how isolation and the often mundane human experience can lead to unending wars. 

This film is about battles--civil war, a fight between two men, a struggle between family and independence, a war between father and son, and the hardest battle of all: the crisis of age and impending death. With so many battles humans often forget why they are fighting... this film will stay with you for days. Incredible performances by Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Masterful cinema.

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Animation by Don Bluth and Others

An American Tail (Don Bluth, 1986)

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Rating: AQ=6, AP=6 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=3, Scale P=3, Scale Q=2, Scale R=2, Scale S=2

Animation, Immigration, Coming of Age, Adventure

I had never actually seen this film until now, strangely. I enjoyed it--a lovely sketchy quality to the art. The storyline and the flow was a little too fast, but it was still charming.

An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (Phil Nibbelink and Simon Wells, 1991)

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Rating: AQ=6, AP=6 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=3, Scale P=3, Scale Q=2, Scale R=2, Scale S=2

Animation, Immigration, Coming of Age, Adventure

A fun little escape. The art felt less whimsical than the original film, but the story was maybe more fun. 

The Land Before Time (Don Bluth, 1988)

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Rating: AQ=6, AP=8 / Comfy Combo

Scale O=3, Scale P=3, Scale Q=3, Scale R=3, Scale S=2

Animation, Coming of Age, Adventure

I love this film in so many ways--so nostalgic. The characters are endearing and the setting and artwork is lovely.

The Brave Little Toaster (Jerry Rees, 1987)

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Rating: AQ=8, AP=9 / Drooling

Scale O=4, Scale P=4, Scale Q=3, Scale R=3, Scale S=3

Animation, Adventure

Of all the non-Disney animated films during the 1980s, the Brave Little Toaster has by far the best artwork and the most dramatic and interesting story. It is no wonder that those who worked on this film later went on to found Pixar. I love this hand-drawn animation so much more.

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Oscars 2023: The Results

And the winner is... Everything, Everywhere, All At Once! And in so many other ways. I'm so happy that long-time actors and writers finally got validated for their work!