Review Of Fargo

Directed By: Joel Coen

Written By: Joel and Ethan Coen

Release Date: 31 May 2006

Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller

Plot: Jerry Lundegaard's inept crime falls apart due to his and his henchmen's bungling and the persistent police work of pregnant Marge Gunderson.

In this film there are many ways that mise-en-scene is used. Coen has used very subtle references throughout the film to show things in a different meaning.

I particulaly like the way that he has used the setting as a cold,snowy not very bright setting because this also links in with Jerry's character because whenever we see Jerry he is very dull character and very insecure.

The setting also shows a sense of inter-textuality with Hitchcock's 'North By North West' because Hitchcock uses a desolate scene to represent the loneliness and feelings of the characters there and this is what Coen has done throughout this film.

We also establish that Jerry is a very boring character because he is always wearing dull colours and he is never in a place that has bright colours in it, he is either in his office,car or house which are all very pastelly calm colours. Jerry also seems to be craving attention because within his office you can see his golf trophies in the background and this could mean that he is boring and that at first view but when you look closer you see he has made accomplishments and things to be proud of.

I also like the way that Coen has used many exteriour shots and also he has linked interiour and exteriour shots together, i particulaly like the scene where Marge has left the kitchen table to leave for work and you can see her out the window of the door but then you can see her husband still sat in the kitchen eating his breakfast, i think this is a very good way of establishing and setting the scene in a realistic way, it was like Coen was hoping the spectators would be more involved as if we were stood there.

I think that Coen uses sublte sounds and colours to represent many things for example every time some one is about to die he has a car beeping and the colour red is used. For example the red of the car lights, the red of the persons jumper.

At the beginning of the film and mostly all the way through the film Jerry is placed in a suit and this shows how he maybe hiding underneath this because then at the end of the film when he is arrested he is in his pyjamas this could symbolise the fact that his 'mask' has been taken from him and it shows all his insecurities.I also get the feeling that he is insecure because all of his coats are too big for him and he maybe wearing big coats to hide his insecurites and it may help him to feel protected.

I also like the way the Coen has used very geometric angles within every shot and throughout the whole film.