Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

The violence, depth and moral ambiguity fit the McDonagh bill, and though the characters are astoundingly strong and fantastically flawed, the scripting is looser than Bruges, and the ending less inevitable. Occasional comedic moments stretch too far tonally, but the drama definitely delivers while McDormand and Rockwell, well… they rock.

Martha Marcy May Marlene

Other Olsen’s Outstanding Acting makes for an interestingly broken character(s) piece.  Brooding and deliberate if somewhat slow non-linear non-structure allows sense of foreboding to build while Hawkes soars as Manson-esque cult leader, sneaking closer to Ruffalo’s old seat as Indie king.  Paulson’s succeeds at supporting in ways her character can’t. 

Contagion

Soderbergh Traffics in another terrifying global film. Sprawling story adequately accomplishes conveying scope of realistic doomsday scenario, but fails to see some it’s character studies through to completion. Strong performances with epidemic of Oscars are sometimes over-powered by look-at-me editing, and a pervasive score. Good Planet of the Apes tie-in.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

Odd meditation on the afterlife with perfect assortment of pensive characters. Enthusiastic leap into extraordinary premise makes accepting it easy, and Whigham’s Virgil to Fugit’s Dante makes the whole thing enjoyable. Where there’s a Will (Arnett) to distract there’s a Waits to perform sublimely and restore equilibrium. A lovely story.