Mad Moving Minnesota Murder Movie

Rating: 7/10 (22 May 2005)

Jerry Lundegaard, a Minneapolis car salesman with big money problems, hires a couple of thugs to kidnap his wife and hold her rich father to ransom. He'll then split the money with them and pay off his debts. Unfortunately things do not go to plan, seven people end up unnecessarily dead and Marge Gunderson, the unstoppable Brainerd County Chief of Police is on the case.
This is a dramatic enigma of a picture in the classic Coen Brothers style - on the surface it's a straight crime drama about a pathetic loser whose get-rich-quick scheme backfires in a colossal way. On the other hand, the characters are so off the wall that at times the movie is more of a satirical comedy. The wintry Minnesota / North Dakota locations are crucial to the atmosphere, as are the Scandinavian "yaah" accents, in a film all about coldness of character. The cast are fantastic, with Macy and McDormand diametric opposites of selfishness and sincerity and Buscemi and Stormare as goofy yet terrifying killers, who redefine the word stupid. Featuring extraordinary beautiful photography by Roger Deakins and a terrific spare score by Carter Burwell. Whilst this is not as flashy or visually inventive as some of their other films (Miller's Crossing, The Hudsucker Proxy), this is perhaps the Coens most personal and acutely-observed movie (they grew up in Minnesota). It's not really an enjoyable experience, but it's a memorable one, and if nothing else, Marge's warmth, intelligence and polite good nature is a ray of beauty in a cold and desolate landscape.