FILM TITLE: FARGO DIRECTOR: JOEL COEN COUNTRY: USA 1996 CINEMATOGRAPHY: ROGER DEAKINS MUSIC: CARTER BURWELL CAST: Frances Mcdormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Peter Stormare, Kristin Rudrud, Harve Presnel SUPER FEATURES: Off beat deadly black comedy.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's nice to see American directors come back to the old fashioned black comedies and their off beat styles. FARGO is, aside from the deadly serious story line, one of those. But it becomes a black comedy by virtue of its characters and their naivete, or should one say, on occasion, their own stupidity. At the bottom of all this, is the human fallacy, that no one can see anything we do at all, and that we will get away with it all, even if something goes wrong.
Unfortunately, the film states that this is a true story, which might have made the film that much more entertaining. The real story is that the film is NOT entertaining and that these characters are real people with real reactions, and over reactions. And, in between, is a half baked attempt at making fun of the life and times in the Midwest, with its naivete and over abundance of expressions and vernacular.
The story is basic enough. A man who has grand designs for financial gains, trying to do what others with the capital do -- harmless enough, hires two bums to kidnap his wife and set up a ransom situation, where upon he would split the money with the bums so that he would be able to go ahead on a deal that he has his eyes on. So far so good. But the two bums that he hires are an odd couple. One is vicious and the other is apparently a bit retarded, or at least not all there. And in the process of doing their job, they get stopped by the highway patrol. The vicious guy loses his temper and kills the trooper and then decides to go after a passer by that drove by during the moment they were disposing of the trooper's body.... and on, and on.
Amidst all this is a police chief, Marge, who is pregnant, but seems to have a pretty good handle on things, and a fairly controlled demeanor. She and her husband look like the all American average Joe and Mary, boring as heck, they probably go to the Twins games once a month, etc, etc. She is a character. She has brains, in a place where other troopers do not seem to have much of an eye for detail and attention. She decides to follow up the case, and it kicks back to the man who has the grand designs. The getaway car, seems to have a dealer's plate, and this seems to be the only dealership in town. The fact that his wife is also missing, is also a curious point to her. They couldn't be connected could they?
Eventually, the two bums kinda get out of hand, and the kidnapped wife manages an escape. By that time, the police chief has done all her homework and is already after the bums and the man with the big plans. End of story, and film.
But in between, the whole thing is crazy, and off key, with the largest array of off beat characters this side of FREAKS. And they all have an expression, and they all talk funny, and they all say the darndest things, right down to the two young gals that were picking up a couple of extra bucks for their movies and fun. Unfortunately, the information they provide to the chief is really useless, but the moment is a treat.
Making serious films is one thing. Making fun films is another. But making a funny serious film, is yet another one, and Joel Coen, has done a very nice job on this one, right from the start. But, darn, the whole thing is really depressing. But funny.
There is no doubt that Frances McDormand is very good in this role as the police chief, and probably well of her Oscar... I did not see all the other winners. But this one was good, in a role that is very difficult to balance. One inch that way, the film becomes a total satire, and the story loses it. One inch the other way, the story becomes another murder mistery and the fun part of the film becomes annoying and distracting to us, as it may have been for the police chief. In the balance lies the great piece of work in this film.
Nice film to see, although not exactly enjoyable. Not recommended to be seen before bedtime, that's for sure...
4 GIBLOONS Copyright (c) Pedro Sena 1997. All Rights Reserved. Member of the Internet Movie Critics Association
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