It was at the BAFTAs in 2003, and it was glorious.
As Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin recently became the most nominated Irish film in Oscars history, it’s time to take a look at the man behind the movie. McDonagh is a British-Irish filmmaker who rose to prominence in the mid 90s when, as a twentysomething with no theater background, he wrote six critically-lauded, award-winning plays in as many years. He then won an Oscar for his 2004 short film Six Shooter and went on to cement his place in Hollywood with feature films In Bruges (2008), Seven Psychopaths (2012), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri (2017).
McDonagh’s style has been described as Quentin Tarantino meets John Millington Synge, and it’s easy to see why. His work is known for its “Guinness-black” humor, venomous dialogue, moral ambiguity, and blending of the tender and the grotesque. However, not everyone is a fan – some people dislike what they see as the hollow glibness that pervades his work, while others (especially in Ireland) are turned off by his depictions of Ireland and Irishness.
If you’re looking to get into McDonagh’s work, his essentials are The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Pillowman, In Bruges, and The Banshees of Inisherin. His trophy cabinet is full of awards including an Academy Award, six BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globes, three Olivier Awards, and nominations for five Tony Awards.
McDonagh is currently dating Phoebe Waller-Bridge, forming perhaps the most powerful screenwriting couple in the biz. His older brother John Michael McDonagh is also a successful screenwriter and director who has cast Brendan Gleeson in multiple pitch-black tragicomedies. And finally, yes, he did once tell Sean Connery to “fuck off” at an awards ceremony – it was at the BAFTAs in 2003 and it was glorious.
