The Irish playwright, screenwriter, director and wordsmith McDonagh is an undeniable living classic of the 21st century. His decision to cast actors John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as two spies with impressive CVs has turned the world as we know it into a sepia symphony of politically charged humour and short-sleeved button-up absurdity.

Two CIA agents, 1973. One with a trail of bodies in countries few can even pronounce, while the other handles the quieter end of things as a discreet “fixer”. Partners Chris and Lee sense political turmoil and a brewing coup in Chile. Their chief sends them on a mission to Easter Island where, posing as loud-mouthed tourists, they manage to stir up trouble, admire the indigenous statues and get entangled with two students. Soon, the seemingly idyllic trip turns into a geopolitical playground with real stakes.

In McDonagh’s world, where violence and ugliness run deep, beauty and grace are always close by. The plays The Pillowman and The Lonesome West, the crime comedy In Bruges (2008) and the Oscar-winning tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) are just a few milestones in his career, during which McDonagh has created chaotic, world-weary and confused characters, every now and then soothed by a pint or two – ale or lager, it doesn’t really matter. Bringing together a stellar cast of actors – Malkovich, Rockwell, American independent cinema icon Parker Posey, Steve Buscemi and even Tom Waits – the film delivers a buddy comedy set in the era of Cold War 2.0. The dialogue-driven sitcom caught in the crossfire of tourism, conspiracies and “dirty pasts” is the new Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) – a masterpiece for those who appreciate wisecracking, colourful characters, playful absurdity and a heart of gold that shines through even in the most serious of troubles.