EntertainmentukfilmGolden GlobesThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri's Golden Globes Win Sparks Backlash

The fact it's about a racist cop's redemption hasn't gone unnoticed.
Ash Percival
By 

Entertainment Editor, HuffPost UK

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‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ was the big winner at Sunday (7 January) night’s Golden Globes, but its success has prompted a backlash.

The film, which is yet to hit UK cinemas, has been seen as problematic by some in the way it deals with the themes of racism, homophobia and police brutality.

It features a redemption arc for a racist cop - played by Sam Rockwell - and this fact didn’t gone unnoticed as the film came out on top in four big categories, including Best Motion Picture in the Drama category.

'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' won four prizes at the Golden Globes
'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' won four prizes at the Golden Globes
Venturelli via Getty Images

Many took to Twitter to air their displeasure at seeing the film do so well at the US awards show:

the golden globes ending on a three billboards win is like a film about a strong independent woman ending by finding sympathy for the violent and racist cop who perpetrated police brutality

— jomny sun (@jonnysun) January 8, 2018

a screenplay about having compassion for a racist cop just won over a screenplay about recognizing that teenage girls are very baller and hella tight and moms are perfect imagine THAT!

— hunter harris (@hunteryharris) January 8, 2018

I'm actually thrilled Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won the Golden Globe for best picture because it gives us an excellent opportunity to remember that there is no justice in this world and most people are dumb sheep with trash opinions.

— Jake Weisman (@weismanjake) January 8, 2018

2017: Moonlight
2018: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

what a time machine

— Miriam Bale (@mimbale) January 8, 2018

Hey Oscars, learn from the Golden Globes:
-Nominate the very deserving women directors
-Realize that despite good performances, Three Billboards is highly problematic
-Nominate Tiffany Haddish for Best Supporting Actress because she deserves it & it will make the show watchable

— 👸🏾 N’Jeri 👸🏾 (@njerieaton) January 8, 2018

three billboards is about a racist cop’s redemption and gary oldman beat his wife with a telephone good night!

— iana (@yorgosIanthimos) January 8, 2018

the #goldenglobes could have given many more nominations to anti-racist films like Mudbound and Get Out this year, but instead they just chose to award a white man for his work in the pro-white Three Billboards (not that it's surprising)

— Imran Siddiquee (@imransiddiquee) January 8, 2018

The fact that #GetOut wasn’t nominated for best screenplay meant the legitimacy of the entire category was already shot....but still Three Billboards? The movie that used violent racism as a character trait you never have to be accountable for? In 2018??? #GoldenGlobes

— Amanda Parris (@amanda_parris) January 8, 2018

Do you think Three Billboards won Best Screenplay specifically for the n-word joke page or the other pages that lacked any true consequence or moral compass for racism or hate crimes?

— Jensen Karp (@JensenClan88) January 8, 2018

do white people realize how ridiculous they sound saying they think three billboards handles racism well when black people across the board are saying it does not?

— camille (@camilllionairre) January 8, 2018

In throwing Globes at "Three Billboards" we're not even going to address the unresolved racism and tone deafness in that regard.

— Trill Scurry (@WilliamScurry) January 8, 2018

However, others claimed those criticising the film’s wins were failing to see some of its nuances:

Three Billboards features a racist cop who gets what’s coming to him throughout the film. It continually mocks and punishes him (deservedly so) until he is kicked out of the dept. and forced to reflect on himself and be better. It’s a complex arc, but it’s there.#goldenglobes

— TEAM DISASTER ARTIST (@yahboyantman) January 8, 2018

"three billboards is about a racist cop"

no it's actually about a mother seeking justice for her daughter after she was raped and murdered but sure to suit your woke twitter narrative write what you want

— manda - oscar season (@amxndasantino) January 8, 2018

Before you get angry at THREE BILLBOARDS, just remember that putting art into competition is insane, and that it’s more important to discuss art than argue why something should win trophies. #GoldenGlobes

— Matt Goldberg (@MattGoldberg) January 8, 2018

This dialogue is the point of #threebillboards. It shows realities of grief, sexual assault & racism. It ends w/ 2 subjectively terrible people going to commit an objectively terrible crime. Viewers form their own opinion on guilt. This IS the conversation we're supposed to have.

— Yogabagaba (@yogabbagabbyogo) January 8, 2018

A lot of people are bent about #ThreeBillboards sweeping the #goldenglobes, especially in the best supporting actor category. But that character allowed the film to tackle social justice issues (eg racism and rape culture) in a subtle way. Subtle doesn’t always mean substandard

— $haundog Millionayre (@shaundogmonayyy) January 8, 2018

If you think Three Billboards was glorifying racists or white supremacists, instead of calling out the real racism in the world and attempting to educate the unashamed ignorants PLEASE watch it again.

— olivia 🌼 (@oliviarubinelli) January 8, 2018

As well as winning Best Film, ‘Three Billboards’ picked up the Best Actress (Drama) award for Frances McDormand, Best Supporting Actor for Sam Rockwell and also Best Screenplay.

In the Best Motion Picture (Drama) category, it had faced competition from ‘Call Me By Your Name’, ‘Dunkirk’, ‘The Post’ and ‘The Shape Of Water’.

‘Lady Bird’ came out on top as the Best Motion Picture in the Musical Or Comedy category, where it went up against ‘Get Out’, which many believed should have been nominated in the traditionally more prestigious Drama category.

You can check out a full list of Golden Globes winners here.

‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ is released in the UK on 12 January.

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