donita51

I so wanted to like Fargo. I had such high expectations of a venture co- sponsored by the Coen brothers, Billy Bob Thornton and Martin Freeman and supposedly based on a great movie. And yet I was disappointed.

Admittedly, it isn't a total disaster, unlike some police series which are bad from the word GO (Justified jumps to mind immediately). Most of the acting is OK, though a bit on the heavy side, especially Billy Bob Thornton who is TOO evil to be credible, who smiles too much in such a malevolent manner as to be a caricature of evil, in short – not too credible (oh for Sir Anthony as a really frightening monster as HL). Martin Freeman grows into the role as does Allison Tollman while Colin Hanks is just another pretty face.

As for the plot, It doesn't remind one so much of the movie Fargo as it does of High Noon. The Lonesome hero(ine), aided by a timid sidekick, surrounded by inept policemen (are they all so daft up North?) and clownish FBI agents battling alone against Evil. Molly Solverson is no Will Kane, but the setting is suspiciously similar and the ending is quite obvious from a long way out.

On the plus side, the photography is gorgeous, the locations are magnificent (as if it matters if it was shot in North Dakota, Minnesota or Canada) and the array of weaponry is impressive.

But what really irritates me is the lack of books. "Books?" you would ask, "What the heck?". Well, quite a few interiors are presented and in NONE of them are there books or bookshelves present. Not even ONE book lying on a coffee table, on a desk, on a night table. Only the omnipresent TV set which is always on, always drawing attention to itself. Is that America, home of the best universities in the world and of some of the best publishing houses or is it typical only of the hicks up North? Or, does Mr. Hawley have issues with books?

This is a minor, inconsequential film, but it does have its charm.

It is supposed to deal with criminals and crimes, but in such a light way as to render it a parody of the genre. The criminals are all inept, the police more lucky than smart and naturally nothing works according to plan.

The performance enhances the parodic feeling of the film, with some overacting, but not in a jarring way. It's as if the actors had instructions to act in a look-how-stupid-we-are manner, and they do it brilliantly.

On the plus side, the film flies by rapidly. It has no real dull or dead moments, no introspection or philosophizing moral. It just aims to provide you with an hour and a half of good time, and in its minor, unassuming way, it does.

I am giving this film 1 star because it's the lowest IMDb allows, but it is not awful. It is way worse. It is an abomination, a shame, a public nuisance. It is detestable.

There is no plot as such, the main theme seems to be the depiction of a gang of really tough policemen and women meting out their own brand of justice. And it's not that I abhor violence in films. DIRTY HARRY, THE GODFATHER and RESERVOIR DOGS are high among my favorites, but here the violence is all gratuitous, most of the time totally unnecessary.

If at least one could write about the acting saving the day, but it doesn't.The cops are a bunch of boors, loudmouths, foul-mouthed, obnoxious and it seems that all, including the female actresses received directions to just act violently, unthinkingly, unfeelingly. Cursing, growling, hissing and yelling is not acting.

I was wondering what Damian Lewis was doing in this film and still am. Is he in such great need of cash, after getting all those huge American cheques for HOMELAND? He does not add anything to the film except embarrassment.

Even the sex scenes are risible. We are used to Americans making love fully clothed, preferably standing up, but when has this unnatural position been adopted by the British?

In conclusion, just ignore this piece of offal. Don't rent it. Don't buy it.

Know what, Don't even download it for free.