Wild Horse Nine (MA) - 116 minutes

Martin McDonagh makes extraordinary films (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Banshees of Inisherin), and this one is no exception.

The darkly comedic, political satire Wild Horse Nine has Oscar nominations written all over it.

In the first instance, I speak of the writing and direction, but then there is a series of remarkable performances, none better than John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell.

The plotting concerns the lead up to the 1973 Chilean coup d'etat that saw a military overthrow of Salvador Allende and his Popular Unity coalition government.

Veteran CIA operative and hitman (he’s killed 68 people) Chris Carlisle (Malkovich) and his protégé Lee Chesterfield (Rockwell) are based in Chile.

Carlisle has previously undertaken operations in Guatemala, the Congo and Cuba.

Now, he and Chesterfield are on their way to Easter Island, where Carlisle is particularly drawn to the wild horses.

Carlisle, who is heavily opinionated, forgetful and an inveterate liar, is receiving regular doses of morphine.

The 72-year-old is terminally ill with cancer and is planning to write his memoir.

That is deeply concerning for bureau chief MJ (Steve Buscemi), who fears disclosure of Carlisle’s association with the assassination of JFK in Dallas in 1963.

MJ tasks Chesterfield with keeping an eye on him, accessing his memoir and determining where he has hidden a gun involved in the shooting.

More than that, MJ makes it clear that "loose lips" Carlisle is past his use by date and if Chesterfield doesn’t toe the line his philandering wife Marge (Parker Posey) is in peril.

At the airport, on his way to Easter Island, much to Chesterfield’s chagrin, Carlise reveals to two young, Left-leaning female students that he is with the CIA.

Carlisle also opens up to the women – Alicia (Ailín Salas) and Monica (Mariana di Girolamo) – about what is about to go down with the Chilean government.

They, too, are on their way to Easter Island, and it is not the only time their paths will cross with Carlisle.

The stakes are high and lives are on the line.

Deeply dialogue driven, the outrageous verbiage so well delivered by Malkovich, Rockwell and Buscemi give it instant appeal.

In particular, you are never sure what will next pour out of the mouth of Malkovich (as Carlisle), but you can be certain it will be incendiary.

Rockwell (as Chesterfield), urges him to dial it down, but that “ain’t goin’ to happen”.

Malkovich’s dead pan delivery of the vicious, biting and absurd (think dinosaurs, moths and an association of “gay” countries with good cheese, for starters), and Rockwell’s reactions are priceless.

There is no shortage of swearing but, in this case, it merely serves to heighten the appeal.

Unpredictability is a major calling card for Martin McDonagh, while the sweeping cinematography of Easter Island by Ben Davis is another noteworthy feature.

I dare say that the tourism boffins associated with the island will be mighty chuffed.

Complete with historic footage and strong production values, Wild Horse Nine is undoubtedly one of the most memorable films of the year.

It is certainly not one I am going to forget in a hurry.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences promises to shine a searing light on Malkovich and McDonagh.

Rated MA, it scores an 8½ out of 10.