Colin Farrell and Martin McDonagh. Golden Globes 2023
The Banshees of Inisherin won three Globes – Best Picture – Musical/Comedy; Colin Farrell, Best Actor – Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy, and Martin McDonagh, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture in the 80th Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton.
A film centering on the failing bromance of two middle-aged men on a random island off the west coast of Ireland may not have worked in any director’s hands. But The Banshees of Inisherin brings together Irish cinematic royalty with writer/director Martin McDonagh, whose trademark black comedies include the Golden Globe and Oscar-winning Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and the Golden Globe-winning In Bruges, alongside his buddies and occasional co-workers Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.
A distinctive fusion of macro issues like the Irish Civil War, which can be heard raging on the mainland, and the micro issues of two men linked by time, geography, culture, love, and disdain, make the film a true Irish and international classic.
If the cast’s chemistry seemed natural, like they’ve known each other for decades, it’s because they have. McDonagh said in a Searchlight Pictures virtual press conference in November, “I think the fact that Colin and Brendan love each other and they’re playing the opposite of that…and going to a darker, sadder place, it was great to have that…being founded on, you know, the care and love that they have for each other. That’s all palpable, from the very first minute of the film, I think.”
The Banshees of Inisherin, 2022
In that same press conference, Gleeson had nothing but praise for his friend and costar Farrell. “Watching him strip away more and more, and his heart has always been massive. And I just find in the last couple of years, the choices that he’s been making, particularly since In Bruges, have always been exploratory, terribly brave, and always, it’s an artistic kind of a journey that he’s on. And being across from him in this movie, it was like, we spoke about it before and said our job is to make each other’s lines as difficult as possible to say.”
Kerry Condon, who plays Farrell’s sister, has also been friends with him since they were teenagers. “He’s just a gentleman: very kind and just lovely to be around,” she told People and Entertainment Weekly in October. “He’s always asking if you want tea and taking care of you, just lovely. I wouldn’t say brotherly, just a gentleman, very well brought up.”
Farrell returned the cast’s praise while accepting his award at the Globes last January 10. “Brendan, I just, I love you so much,” he said. “I love that I get to cohabitate in this creative space with you every day. All I did when I came to work every day was aspire to be your equal.”
“Martin McDonagh, I owe you so much, man,” he added. “Fourteen years ago, you put me working with Brendan Gleeson, my dance partner, and you changed the trajectory of my life forever in ways that I, begrudgingly, will be grateful to you for the rest of my days.”
The Banshees of Inisherin was nominated for eight Golden Globes, including Best Director (Martin McDonagh), Best Score (Carter Burwell), and motion picture supporting acting nods for Kerry Condon (Best Supporting Actress), Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan (Best Supporting Actor).
