Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri exclusive trailer introduces an Oscar contender

It's the latest from Seven Psychopaths and In Bruges director Martin McDonagh

This year's Oscar race is particularly intriguing. In a post-Moonlight world, it seems the tired, traditionalist rules of the Academy have broken, and anything is possible.

It's left Oscar prognosticators without any sure footing, or a sense of which horse to back in the race. But it's also widened the conversation, in a way that's welcomed in more diverse and unpredictable choices.

One film that's cropped up frequently in conversation is Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, the latest from Seven Psychopaths and In Bruges director Martin McDonagh.

It follows one woman - frustrated with the police force's apparent lack of interest in her daughter's murder case - who goes to war with local law enforcement. All by putting up three controversial billboards: "Raped while dying,” “And still no arrests,” “How come, Chief Willoughby?”

Frances McDormand, who won the Oscar for 1995's Fargo, plays the woman in question, Mildred Hayes; the kind of tough, no-nonsense performance (with plenty of NSFW language with you watch the Red Band trailer) that she excels in - perhaps enough to fling her back onto the Academy stage.

The film also boasts supporting performances from Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Peter Dinklage, and Manchester by the Sea breakout Lucas Hedges.

Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri hits UK cinemas 12 January.