Five years after his arrival in Venice with his third film, Three billboards outside of Ebbing, Missouri, who performed well at the box office, won a BAFTA in 2018 and won Oscars for Sam Rockwell and Frances McDormand (teasing their performances in Inclusive Rider), Martin McDonagh returns to Lido with his sequel. Another black comedy from the famous British-Irish playwright and film director, Inisherin’s Banshees Enhancing the drama of his earlier work a bit, moving the setting to 1923 and rural Ireland, it tells the story of two men whose friendship ends abruptly when one decides the other is too boring.
The film, shot in County Galway, the site of many of McDonagh’s early performances (and close to his parents’ home), also brings Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell on screen for the first time since the director’s film. from 2008. in witches (Gleason was last seen before falling from the top of the tower.)
Talk to the hollywood reporterMcDonagh talks about not being productive (and his fear that success three billboards may force you to work harder), explains how his last film was titled decades before the story, and firmly closes the door on any producer who hopes not to have a script. He also admits that his partner Phoebe Waller-Bridge gives him feedback on his performance. luckily he liked it Inisherin’s Banshees.
I read somewhere that you originally came up with the idea Inisherin’s Banshees Back in 1994. That’s right, and you’ve been sitting around ever since?
This is definitely not true and I want to clarify one thing. I had a title and I was trying to write a play with the title; actually it was Inisheri’s Banshees Afterwards, but I never finished, I didn’t like it and left it aside. But I always liked the title and thought it was something to bring back. Basically, about three years ago, I came up with something that the title would work for. So this is something completely new, based on nothing back then. I don’t even remember what it was.
The name obviously fits with your Aran Islands pieces, which you wanted to turn into a trilogy.
It still feels like the end of a trilogy, of course, in terms of the story being told, and it’s a dark comedy set in the west of Ireland. But other than that, it’s new.
So where does the story come from?
I just wanted to write a simple, sad kind of story between two guys, in a weird way. And I think a part of him has always wanted Colin and Brendan to get back together ever since. in witches. I’ve been friends with them ever since and I’ve always hoped that no one would work with them. It almost happened once and it failed and I was so happy. They also always wanted to be together, so that was the seed, that breakup story and these guys.
14 years have passed since then in witches. Hit it again right away. You obviously killed Brendan brutally at the end of this movie.
He killed himself! But yes, it is always a joy. During our eight weeks there wasn’t a single crossword puzzle, which is strange. I love them and we live well. There is no madness in us, there is no madness of glory in them. They know I’m still a budding filmmaker, but they know I’m good at what I’m good at: story and characters. And they know that I care what they care about.
banshees It has a different rhythm and feel than your other films. Is it more in line with your pieces?
I don’t think it suits the acting very much, but I wanted to do something more relaxed and less than other films. It’s definitely less Hollywood. I feel European in a way, although I didn’t think so when I did. But he knew there was room for the landscape to be a part of him. I wanted it to be as beautiful as any Irish movie if possible. So we always looked for that, which allowed us to have more space and more peace, I think, than other films. It’s probably less about the plot and more about the character than anything else. But I think it’s just as funny as the other funny parts.
This is his first film shot in Ireland since. six shooters. Is it something you’ve wanted to do for a long time?
Yes, and it was filmed near my parents. They’re out of Galway and we’re filming on Inishmore, one of the Isles of Arran, and you literally have to walk past their house to get to the boat. Being able to go back and see them on the weekends, which was great. And Galway is a wonderful city to visit. And it was fun because usually the crew on set know about their previous films, but in this film they also knew a lot about the performances. So that was great.
This is his first performance since then. three billboards. When you’ve had a success of this magnitude, is it easy to focus on what you want to do next and not get caught up in the noise and, I’m sure, too many offers?
As I’m not one to make movies one after another and I usually don’t like to work when something goes right, the fear is that I’ll have to work harder. So I avoided it completely. I always write something every year, but something that is just for me and is never commissioned. If I’m wrong, I’ll throw it away. I love everything that happened three billboardsIt was unexpected and a crazy and fun trip. But you pick it up with tweezers. I didn’t feel like I had to pursue him any other way than being as good as he was good. in witches. In terms of success, I don’t care, to be honest. three billboards It was a crazy anomaly. I think it happened at the right time. [The] Me too [movement] was happening during this amazing France [McDormand] The play and all those speeches. So it will never happen again.
And for all the success three billboards And perhaps because of its success, there was a backlash against Sam Rockwell’s openly racist character. Were you uncomfortable with the experience?
As someone who has always been anti-racist and thinks about these things a lot, it was interesting! But I think the film is not what a minority of people felt. I can understand why they thought that, but I think they would just read it in a simplistic way. I didn’t put the words in my mouth, but my feeling was that they saw Rockwell’s character at the end of the movie as the hero of the play. He tries to be, but fails miserably. And they’re both going to kill the wrong guy, which isn’t heroic. So I was trying to tell a story about who we consider heroes and villains and ask if there was a debate about that. And I felt the racist thing was too simplistic when reading the end of the movie. But I understand.
He only directed films he wrote. Have you ever imagined directing someone else’s work?
never before. Fortunately, I always had stories to fall back on. I don’t think I ever will. As I don’t work often, I always have time to do something in between. And that’s part of the joy. I think this is the happiest time for me, writing something new.
Have you ever thought about adapting any of your works for the screen?
I am not against. As much as I say I hate theater, I care that you write the best play you can without looking at it in another art form. You have to respect the art form itself. And it’s usually a matter of making more money. I also feel like the history of the performances has already been told, so I won’t repeat them.
His partner Phoebe Waller-Bridge is clearly an extraordinarily talented writer. Do you use it as a sounding board for your scripts?
There is no sound card, but it usually reads something at the end of the process. And he liked it a lot, so it was great.
Did you have any comments? banshees?
There are no notes, but just her saying she liked it a lot was enough for me.
Do you have a friendly rivalry with your brother John Michael McDonagh?
Yes, friendly, I don’t know if it’s competition, but we always hope that things go well for us.
But the two of you often fight over Brendan Gleeson’s attention.…
He also stole Ralph Fiennes!
Like Brendan’s character. bansheesHave you ever tried to stop being friends with someone because you thought it was boring?
Not annoying per se, but annoying! I kept all my friends bored.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
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