Venice film festival: Two men, some violence, much freewheeling chat: so far, so standard fare from the Oscar-winning writer-director. After several Oscar nominations and BAFTA wins for his first four films, it is nice to report that writer-director Martin McDonagh is, with his latest Wild Horse Nine, five for five. Key points and original sources are listed below.

• Venice film festival: Two men, some violence, much freewheeling chat: so far, so standard fare from the Oscar-winning writer-director. But this time the comedy and charm can feel diluted by blood and machismoIt isn’t a Martin McDonagh movie unless you’ve got t...S1

• After several Oscar nominations and BAFTA wins for his first four films, it is nice to report that writer-director Martin McDonagh is, with his latest Wild Horse Nine, five for five. And though it is hard to rank a group that includes In Bruges, Seven Psychopa...S2

• More often than not, a Martin McDonagh script sets out like the start of a joke. Two Irishmen meet in a pub, a hangman and a stranger meet in a pub, two hitmen go on holiday to Belgium, a man searches for his missing left hand, a woman purchases three billboar...S3