Based on a true story...

Actually it isn't, but more on that later. The movie I am referring to is Fargo, written, directed, produced edited (and probably even catered) by Joel and Ethan Cohen in 1996. It won 2 Academy Awards - best actress in a leading role (Frances McDormand) and best original screenplay (the Cohen brothers).

The movie starts with the text: "THIS IS A TRUE STORY. The events depicted in this film took place in Minnesota in 1987. At the request of the survivors, the names have been changed. Out of respect for the dead, the rest has been told exactly as it occurred." This in itself is an excellent move because as the story progresses, and more disturbing things happen, you have in the back of your mind that those things probably really did happen. There are quite a few well known actors in this movie, Steve Buscemi (a personal favourite of mine) William H Macy (another favourite) and quite a few others I have seen in TV shows or other movies. The plot is about a car salesman (William H Macy) who schemes to have his wife kidnapped (by Steve Buscemi and his accomplice). They are to split the ransom money that is to be paid by his rich father-in-law. Things start to go wrong when the kidnappers are pulled over by a state trooper for not displaying the correct registration plates and they kill him. Things start to go horribly wrong for William H Macy's character too as his father-in-law wants to be part of the negotiations, potentially ruining his plans. The saviour in this film is the pregnant local police woman, played by Frances McDormand, an extremely likeable, smart and calm character. The way she handles crime scenes in a non-plussed, relaxed manner, not at all affected by the gruesome scenes she witnesses is actually refreshing and welcome. It helps to balance out the violence. Personally I didn't see anything in her performance that would warrant an Oscar though, but then again who am I to judge these things.

This movie is disturbing and violent and warrants it's MA rating. I personally think it is more deserving of an R rating than Fight Club. It is a black humour though and possibly because some of it is so visually disturbing, it is hard not to laugh. The setting of the movie (actually none of it was shot in Fargo) adds to the mood of the film, as does the music.

As far as I know, I have only seen one other movie made by the Cohen brothers and that is The Big Lebowski. I actually enjoyed that more than Fargo. Both movies feature Steve Buscemi and in Fargo he plays the role of the "funny looking" man. When they say in the movie - "how is he funny looking?" I asked myself the same question. It is his teeth. He has a face full of crockery that looks like he picked up off the floor of a Greek wedding. I actually wondered how he would feel about being portrayed that way but it couldn't have been too bad because in the end he was chipper. Boom tish!

So, is it a true story? No. Any research done on the movie will tell you that. In fact, at the end of the movie they have the standard disclaimer about the story being ficticious etc. The Cohen brothers wrote about crimes they had heard or read about, so I guess in a sense, it is partly true.

Now comes the time for me to think about giving it a rating. I didn't dislike the movie, but then again, I wouldn't hurry to watch it again. The story is told well, the cinematography was great and the characters were very good. It just seems to me that any movie that is disturbing or violent automatically becomes a hit with everyone. That isn't enough for me to give a movie a high rating. It is more about enjoyment for me and I must admit I enjoy movies that make me laugh like a comedy would. This movie made me chortle but the kind of chortle I would make when watching a kid fall off his bike on Australia's Funniest Home Video Show. Not really a belly laugh.

Here is the rating :
Fargo - 5 woodchippers