Woody Harrelson calls 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' a masterpiece

Woody Harrelson is known as a straight shooter, so when he speaks this highly about a film, fans should pay attention. In Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Harrelson plays a small-town police chief who incurs the wrath of a single mother (Frances McDormand) seeking justice for her daughter’s killer. The darkly comic drama from writer-director Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths), is “a real masterpiece,” according to Harrelson, balancing “the darkest possible premise” with “humor” and “emotion.” As the actor told Yahoo Entertainment, “I’ve never seen audiences respond to any movie like this.” Watch the video above.

Harrelson (who is also starring in this month’s biopic LBJ) had nothing but praise for his Three Billboards director and co-stars. Frances McDormand, he said, is at “the top of her game… that part is such a great part, and boy does she nail it.” As a corrupt cop, Sam Rockwell gives “maybe his best performance,” said Harrelson, “and he’s never been anything but great.” As for McDonagh, Harrelson described him as “Coen brothers-level, which is the highest and best it gets in this industry.” (Harrelson worked on the Coens’ No Country for Old Men, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2008.)

Woody’s final word on Three Billboards? “I feel really lucky to be a part of it.” Who needs a publicist when you’ve got Woody?

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri opens in theaters Friday.

From ‘Cheers’ to ‘Hunger Games,’ watch Woody Harrelson share his favorite behind-the-scenes moments in our Role Recall:

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:

• Sam Rockwell on channeling American rage in ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’

• Watch the trailer for Kristen Stewart’s directing debut, ‘Come Swim’ (exclusive)

• Laurence Fishburne on ‘Last Flag Flying’: ‘We don’t tell this story often enough’

• Allison Janney plays mommy dearest to Margot Robbie in official ‘I, Tonya’ trailer