Fargo (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
'Fargo', written/directed by the Coen Bros., opens with a low-profile meeting btwn. financially-strapped, desperate Minnesota car salesman Jerry Lundegaard (William H. Macy) & 2 out-of-town (from Fargo) hit men, Carl Showalter & Gaear Grimsrud (Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare). Why the meeting? Jerry needs this duo to kidnap his wife, then ransom her for a whopping $1 million; to wipe out his own personal debts. Jerry doesn't have the $$, but his tightwad father-in-law (Harve Presnell) sure does. When the $$ is paid out, Jerry is supposed to get a 50% cut, as well as the safe return of his wife. This way, everyone is better for it, except for his father-in-law.
Unfortunately, the hit men are complete imbeciles, and the plan goes completely wrong. Dead bodies start piling up. Jerry can't believe what is happening. And a very pregnant local cop, Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), is given the unenviable task of investigating this string of murders. Problem: she, along with her fellow authorities, is almost as idiotic as the hit men. Still, she's adamant about solving the murders within her jurisdiction. And only through a freak strike of fate is she able to end up on the right track.
'Fargo' is based on a series of "true events" which supposedly happened in 1987. Ha. If that is really true, then this is one Hell of a story – twisted; dark; comical. Just the fact that the police are as dim-witted as the criminals makes the movie inherently humorous. 'Fargo' is an odd duck. I didn't care about any of the characters (I usually need to - in order to enjoy any movie); they're more like caricatures. There is little dramatic impact within the story (another aspect of film that I usually require - to enjoy it). And some of the deaths are quite grisly (wood chipper, much?).
And STILL, I had a fun time watching this movie. The characters are lovably quirky. The acting is great (loved Frances McDormand's "aww, gee" Marge; Steve Buscemi is fantastic as one of the hit men). Roger Deakins' cinematography (of barren Minnesota) is SUPERB. The script is fun: frequently using those strange, Midwest terms like 'you're darn tootin', 'what the heck', 'oh, yaah', & 'ya don't say?'
And the Coen Bros. do a wonderful job of creating an 'atmosphere'; a sense of time & place. I was hypnotized; feeling like I was right there with the simple Minnesota folk through the whole film. 'Fargo' blends deadpan comedy with suspense, & swift violence. If not for the humor, the film may have been unbearably dark & gruesome. And, I hate to say it, but the film thrives because of its tongue-in-cheek depiction of good 'ole Middle America - the people, their customs, speech patterns, insights, & overall ways of life. But what's funny is: though they're an interesting breed, we're all the same. We all can be nice, dumb, smart, complex, emotional, greedy, desperate ... and even murderous.
Unfortunately, the hit men are complete imbeciles, and the plan goes completely wrong. Dead bodies start piling up. Jerry can't believe what is happening. And a very pregnant local cop, Marge Gunderson (Frances McDormand), is given the unenviable task of investigating this string of murders. Problem: she, along with her fellow authorities, is almost as idiotic as the hit men. Still, she's adamant about solving the murders within her jurisdiction. And only through a freak strike of fate is she able to end up on the right track.
'Fargo' is based on a series of "true events" which supposedly happened in 1987. Ha. If that is really true, then this is one Hell of a story – twisted; dark; comical. Just the fact that the police are as dim-witted as the criminals makes the movie inherently humorous. 'Fargo' is an odd duck. I didn't care about any of the characters (I usually need to - in order to enjoy any movie); they're more like caricatures. There is little dramatic impact within the story (another aspect of film that I usually require - to enjoy it). And some of the deaths are quite grisly (wood chipper, much?).
And STILL, I had a fun time watching this movie. The characters are lovably quirky. The acting is great (loved Frances McDormand's "aww, gee" Marge; Steve Buscemi is fantastic as one of the hit men). Roger Deakins' cinematography (of barren Minnesota) is SUPERB. The script is fun: frequently using those strange, Midwest terms like 'you're darn tootin', 'what the heck', 'oh, yaah', & 'ya don't say?'
And the Coen Bros. do a wonderful job of creating an 'atmosphere'; a sense of time & place. I was hypnotized; feeling like I was right there with the simple Minnesota folk through the whole film. 'Fargo' blends deadpan comedy with suspense, & swift violence. If not for the humor, the film may have been unbearably dark & gruesome. And, I hate to say it, but the film thrives because of its tongue-in-cheek depiction of good 'ole Middle America - the people, their customs, speech patterns, insights, & overall ways of life. But what's funny is: though they're an interesting breed, we're all the same. We all can be nice, dumb, smart, complex, emotional, greedy, desperate ... and even murderous.