I am pleased to see that our latest film has so exercised the troops. Of particular amusement is the sight of poor Nick being whacked around like a Pinyata by Benny, James, and even Steve, who arose from his semester-long torpor just to tell us how much he hated this film. Well boys, sorry to disappoint, but Nick is right again. This film has a lot going for it.
First of all, the comments that the Coen Bros. are just using their name to ride on very little effort here. This film was made in 1994 when the Coen Bros. though well-known, did not carry the same weight they do today. Also, this type of film, where the most horrible stuff is portrayed in a folksy, jokesy way, was much fresher and new back then. Pulp Fiction was perhaps the most famous example of this kind of portrayal of the ordinariness of criminal life.
I compared the screenplay to In Bruges yesterday, but didn't have time to explain myself. I was referring to the endless creativity expressed in the dialogue. To have killers orating and proclaiming in Ciceronian pentameter (or whatever) is well known, whether he be Cagney, Bogart, Pacino, etc. But to have killers spouting about how the conversation is rather dull, and how would you like it if I didn't speak to you for three hours etc. This tends to raise the level of absurdity to new heights (or lower them to new depths).
After all, how do you adequately describe a universe that is absurd, but not absurd in a Greek tragedy sort of way, a la Runaway Train. Rather, a universe that is absurd in a ridiculous way. Not only that, but how can the director draw the viewer in to his web of banal evil? The scene where the wife is running around in the snow is truly horrible, but it is horrible because we want to laugh too. She is ridiculous and our inclination is to laugh. But isn't the effect of this inclination to make us uncomfortable, not for her or for the killers, but uncomfortable about ourselves?
The Chinese guy is an extension of this vision. The message is that evil is so pervasive, and so ridiculous and pitiful, that we will brush up against it everywhere, even in the most banal places, and we will not recognize it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I like to think that although I did get knocked around a bit, I was able to hold my own and not seem like I was beaten haha.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to take a moment to address something that I think other people may have been thinking, which is that I am automatically disregarding their criticisms of Fargo because I just think I am better than them and they just have no idea what they are talking about. I don't think I'm better than anyone, I just speak very confidently about these types of subjects. I haven't had anybody tell me that I have been behaving arrogantly, but rereading some of my posts and comments, I think it could come off that way. The only criticisms of Fargo I toss aside are the ones I mentioned on my blog yesterday.
But thank you, Mr Bennett, for letting everybody know I was right =P
Usually, our self-assessment errs on the side of humility and rectitude. In this case, you err on the other. My "smugness meter" is always on high, and I detected none. Fargo is a weird film, and I don't think there's anything wrong with not liking it. I thought the criticisms of it were well-argued. I also think they are quite wrong.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bennett, you are probably right because you, Nick, and my brother all have told me that Fargo was a great movie, so clearly I missed something and maybe I will have to re-watch it. I must say that I am surprised that I didn't like Fargo because I have seen about 6 Coen Brothers films, I thought No Country was very good, I liked 90% of Barton Fink, and I thought Burn After Reading was very clever, but I just thought Fargo missed the mark on something. I'm not sure what it was because I don't normally dislike movies because they are bleak or strange, I enjoyed Synecdoche, New York.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about Fargo, I can't really think of anything that was badly executed in the film, the acting, writing, and cinematography were all first-rate, but there was just something about the film that only made it a good movie, but not a great movie in my mind. So I just don't know what it was but I guess I personally expected all of the plot twists to happen. I expected everyone that died to die and I could have predicted what was going to happen in the rest of the movie after the first 30 minutes. Maybe that was my problem with it.
My final criticism and this is probably blasphemous, but I personally am starting to see a pattern in the Coen Brothers, and find their lack of formula in films, to be start developing as their formula and makes their films predictable, if that makes any sense.
Jimmy - regarding your final paragraph, I do agree that the Coen Brothers films do often fit a pattern that they revisit frequently. However I still would not call them formulaic, unoriginal, or hackneyed (I am not saying that you said that, just in general, I would not say it). Your comment, however blashpemous it may seem, is something I agree with. If anything, it can be considered the one downfall of the brothers. I don't see it as one though. I love what they do with films, and even though they reuse past elements, I still find their work refreshing and original. I love when filmmakers explore the bleakness of humanity. My favorite director is Stanley Kubrick, and in almost all of his films, dehumanization was a prevelant theme. But even though he recycles this idea, it is still a thrill to watch every time.
ReplyDeleteI would like you to rewatch Fargo but if you still do not like it, than do not think it is your fault. Sometimes a movie just doesn't do it for people. For instance, when we watched Midnight Cowboy, I was very unimpressed with it. I thought it was good, but couldn't see what made it great. As time has passed I have grown to appreciate it a little more, but I still wouldn't call it great. That's just how it is sometimes.
Jimmy we need to stick to our guns here, just because Mr. Bennett and Nick say a movie is good doesn't mean you aren't allowed to not like it, or have to make excuses for disliking it. Even after all of this debate, I'm not convinced, Fargo is still probably my least favorite of the semester. But that's my opinion.
ReplyDeleteJeez Benny you're such a negative Nancy lol. It's fine that you're unconvinced. I respect your ability to think for yourself. I like to pride myself on my ability to do the same. You should take pride in it too.
ReplyDeleteYes, boys. Just quote Luther, in the original German. Picture Nick and I as the agents of Charles the Fifth.
ReplyDeleteHier stehe ich, ich kann nicht anders, Gott helfe mir, Amen
Translation of Mr. Bennett's comment since I am fluent in German:
ReplyDeleteHere I stand, I can not do otherwise, God help me, Amen
Interesting reference Mr. Bennett.
Or you can translate the German phrases directly word by word ;-)
ReplyDelete"Hier stehe ich, ich kann nicht anders, Gott helfe mir, Amen"
"Here stand I, I can not otherwise, God help me, Amen"
And Cassidy, are you really fluent in German or did you just say that as a joke?
P.S. - Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't both English & French evolve directly from the German language?