Fargo (1997) - 10/10

The true definition of dark comedy, Fargo is probably the most celebrated and award winning of the Coen Brother's films and rightly so. I watched the movie this time with commentary by cinematographer Richard Deakins and found it very cool to listen to the details behind the on-set production and the impact it still has on him today. The accents, bleak frozen landscape, and real-to-life characters all add to the humor this movie shows as we see murder and mayhem played out in akward situations but it's constructed so simply that we accept it as "a true story" even though it's not. Some interesting things Deakins discusses is how he lit the outside shots using the glare of the snow, the way that they used different sets for even a simple scene like riding in a car, or the way that the lighting changes from one color to another in a background. His great relationship with the Coen brothers is apparent in the way he praises their simple framing of shots, where the only tracking shot they used was when she stumbles upon the wood chipper. I like the way it balances this safe haven of the home she has with her husband and the mundane way of life that is highlighted with the nice people and accents in direct contrast to the greed and murder the criminals represent. Instead of showing us the brutal violence, they cut away during some scenes or show it in a funny light like it's almost an accident and these people are trying to cover it up like normal idiots would. Fargo is one of a kind, a rare blend of geographic humor that's mixed with incredibly fleshed out characters and scary bad guys which are so bad at their job it's funny to witness the atrocities they commit knowing that they'll get their due from the fish out of water pregnant mom. It's always fun to listen to the commentaries for these movies I love and hearing Deakins was a treat.