Martin McDonagh

Martin McDonagh burst onto the London theatre scene as a young playwright in the nineteen-nineties. At one point, he had four plays running simultaneously on stages across London. But McDonagh also aspired to work in movies, and he eventually shifted his focus to directing films such as “In Bruges” and “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” “When you sit down to write something, how do you know if it’s a movie or a play?” the staff writer Patrick Radden Keefe asked McDonagh at The New Yorker Festival. “If it has four characters, and it’s set indoors, it’s a play,” McDonagh replied—“if it doesn’t have any donkeys or dogs.” McDonagh’s new film, “The Banshees of Inisherin,” starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, is his first feature set in Ireland, and it prominently features a donkey. “Banshees” traces the story of a friendship breaking apart in the beautiful, remote hills of the country’s west. “I just wanted this [movie] to be sort of plotless in a way,” McDonagh said. “Just to have the unravelling of this breakup be what the whole story was about.” The film is now nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. This segment originally aired on October 21, 2022.

Director Martin McDonagh discusses his new film, The Banshees of Inisherin, with fellow director Jeremy Kagan in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, McDonagh discusses his rehearsal process, how he approached the tone of the film, and utilizing the innocent lens of animals. Set on a remote island near Ireland's west coast, the film follows the shocking series of events that ensue when Colm tries to abruptly end a lifelong friendship with Padraic, while Padraic refuses to take no for an answer. Please note: spoilers are included. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/Events/2022/December2022/Banshees_QnA_1022.aspx

Sam is joined by writer-director Martin Mcdonagh to talk about his new film. In cinemas now. Director: Martin McDonagh Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell Duration: 115 min Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell and Woody Harrelson are at their best in this blistering pitch-black comedy from Martin McDonagh (In Bruges). McDormand stars as the foul-mouthed, tough-as-nails Mildred Hayes, a grieving mother whose frustration boils over when the local police allow her daughter’s murder case to go cold. She publicly shames the town’s revered sheriff, William Willoughby (Harrelson), with three disused billboards, a sequence of bright red reminders that justice has not been served. The move stokes the ire of Willoughby’s thuggish, bigoted deputy (Rockwell), and so begins a violent, vicious circle of anger and revenge. From there, Three Billboards hurtles along an unpredictable but hugely rewarding narrative arc, veering between riotous laughter and sobering drama throughout. Sharply scripted and wonderfully acted, it’s one of the most accomplished contenders in this year’s awards race.

Sanjeev Bhaskar and Robbie Collin sit in for Simon and Mark. Director Martin McDonagh talks about his new film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Plus the UK Box Office Top 10 and reviews including Hostiles and Brad's Status. Download the Kermode and Mayo podcast at bbc.co.uk/podcasts/5live. Email: mayo@bbc.co.uk Text: 85058 (charged at your standard network rate) Twitter: @wittertainment.

New year, new episode! That’s right the Directors UK Podcast is back for 2018, and this week we have director Martin McDonagh talking to writer Damon Wise about his upcoming film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Topics included Martin’s writing process, casting, and the real-life inspiration for the film. If you like what you hear, give us a rating and review! Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is out on January 12. Music: Loyalty Freak

SPOILER WARNING: Please note that we discuss major plot points from Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in this interview. Please watch the film before listening. With films like In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Martin McDonagh has very quickly become one of the best auteur filmmakers working today. His dialogue is sharp and focused, and his characters are so individually unique and organic. Over his three feature films he has also established a great working relationship with composer Carter Burwell. We were able to catch Martin very briefly on the phone for a quick discussion on his writing process and how he works with Carter. Martin talks about why he pursued filmmaking after becoming known as a playwright, and how his Oscar-winning short film helped launch his career. We discuss his writing approach and technique to make sure each character feels authentic with their own voice and how he doesn't listen to music during his actual writing time. We then talk about how he and Carter Burwell work together, and how as a director he has full trust in his composer and doesn't interfere in the process beyond giving him his initial direction. Martin is such a great storyteller and a filmmaker who utilizes score in such a brilliant way; it was fantastic to have him as guest for this quick chat about his process. Special Thanks: Martin McDonagh, Paula Woods, Knight Hall Agency Ltd

Director Martin McDonagh discusses his new film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, with fellow Director Niki Caro. The film stars Frances McDormand as Mildred Hayes, a woman frustrated by the fact that months after her daughter's violent murder, no progress has been made in the case. Infuriated by the lackluster effort by the local police, she commissions three billboards leading into her town with messages aimed at Ebbing's revered chief of police thereby setting off a battle of wills with the police force and the local community.