🍿51: The Banshees of Inisherin
Ever wondered what film has the most swear words? Or which actor has sworn the most in their career? Find out in this week's SP.
“Maybe that’s what hell is, the entire rest of eternity spent in fucking Bruges.”
~ In Bruges, 2008
What’s the craic?
In terms of trailers and movie headlines, not a lot has happened since last week’s Salty Popcorn. But despite that, this issue’s feature review, The Banshees of Inisherin has scored the highest rating since we reviewed Everything Everywhere All at Once back in May for SP#37 - which to this day is still the most ‘liked’ issue of SP.
I wonder if this edition could top 13 likes?… ❤️
Now for the headlines:
Angelina Jolie is set to star as the opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s (Spencer) next biopic. Read more.
There’s an Ex Machina-esque sci-fi thriller on the horizon in the form of T.I.M. Read more.
Julianne Nicholson has joined Nicolas Cage in Kristoffer Borgli’s A24 comedy Dream Scenario. Read more.
And finally, the adult animation Sausage Party, starring Seth Rogen, is getting a TV spinoff - can you tell it’s been a slow news week? Read more.
Salty Popcorn is 100% free, but if you enjoy SP, please consider buying us a cinema ticket for just £5 per month - or a bunch of tickets for just £30 per year. Thank you!
Upcoming Releases
Bones and All
UK: 23 November // USA: 18 November
Love blossoms between a young woman (Taylor Russell) on the margins of society and a disenfranchised drifter (Timothée Chalamet) as they embark on a 3,000 mile odyssey through the backroads of America.
A Man Called Otto
UK: 6 January // USA: 13 January
Tom Hanks plays grumpy widower Otto in this film adaptation of the bestselling book (A Man called Ove) by Fredrik Backman. Otto meets his match in his new quick-witted neighbour Marisol leading to an unlikely friendship that will turn his world upside-down.
I must say that the 2015 Swedish film adaptation, A Man Call Ove, looks more appealing (watch the trailer here)… I’m not sure Tom Hanks could ever be grumpy enough to pull this one off.
Fact of the week
In its 107-minute runtime, In Bruges features the word “fuck” (and its derivatives) a total of 126 times - that’s an average of 1.18 fucks per minute. Does that make it the sweariest film of all time? F*ck no, that honour goes to Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street.
Surprisingly though, Jonah Hill wins the award for the sweariest actor of all time, having spewed a total of 376 on-screen profanities throughout his career, just beating Leonardo DiCaprio’s record of 361.
Review: The Banshees of Inisherin
Star rating:
4.5 (out of 5)
Where to watch:
USA: Only in cinemas
UK: Only in cinemas
Runtime:
1hr 54m
Director:
Martin McDonagh
Blurb:
On a remote island off the Irish coast, Padraic (Colin Farrell) is devastated when his lifelong friend Colm (Brendan Gleeson) decides it’s time they go their separate ways.
The review (NO spoilers):
The Banshees of Inisherin is a dark and brooding tragic comedy like no other, excluding perhaps In Bruges. While it’s impossible not to compare these two films, Banshees is (despite their similarities) wholly original.
Set in the 1920s, on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, interludes of picturesque landscapes paired with a foreboding classical score work well to set the tone. Banshees may not be as fast-paced as the hitmen’s holiday in Belgium but the melodrama that unfolds is so enthralling you won’t be disappointed by the lack of action and debauchery.
Of course, the real talking point of this film is the chemistry between Collin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson. To be given a new rendition of an on-screen relationship — let alone one as iconic as that of In Bruges — is a rare treat and having these two together again is magic. It’s hard to imagine any film about feuding friends having the same impact without the presence of these actors.
While their characters may rely heavily on the absurd witty dialogue that has become a trademark of Martin McDonagh’s craft, this trio of talent clearly makes for a winning formula. Hopefully, we’ll see them work together again in the future - even if we have to wait another 14 years, there’s no doubt it’ll be worth it.
Scroll down to see what’s in the next issue.
If you liked The Banshees of Inisherin…
The Guard
2011 | UK: Netflix // USA: Amazon Prime ($2.99)
It would be too easy to recommend In Bruges this week, but the chances are you’ve already seen it —if you haven’t then stop everything you’re doing and watch it right now — so instead we’ll recommend The Guard.
Written and directed by John Michael McDonough (Martin McDonagh’s brother), Don Cheadle stars as a no-nonsense FBI agent that has to work with an irreverent Irish policeman (Brendan Gleeson) when he travels to a small town in Ireland to investigate a drug trafficking case.
In the next issue:
Triangle of Sadness
UK: 28 October // USA: 7 October | Watch the Trailer
