Fargo , no Country for Old Men , and Burn after Readin

All three have various plots but they all have in common violence and money that no one benefits from. All three movies also involve someone being killed. The text refers this to auteuristic models of film that is the signature of the “author” of their work with uniformity. Auteurism has a consistent theme and design throughout a director’s film. Correlated elements of auteurism are cinematic technique, stories and themes. Distinctions of auteurism also includes relationships with actors, cinematographers and scriptwriters.

These films share themes and visuals of a unique quirkiness with kooky characters finding themselves in situations they are beyond their belief along with plots of crime gone wrong. No Country for Old Men and Burn after Reading are plots of evil and the reasons behind it.

Fargo is a dark comedy set in Minnesota capturing the dialect of the culture. Lines to note are that of Carl, “What kind trouble are you in, Jerry? Jerry replies with, “Well, that’s… that’s… I’m not go inta, inta… see, I just need money.” This is where the plan to get money begins “There’s more to life than a little money, you know. Don’tcha know that? And here ya are, and it’s a beautiful day” per Marge Gunderson the local police chief using a Midwestern accent.

Burn After Reading is a plot of spies caught up violence to get the money they need along with immorality and miscommunication among characters. The comedy Burn After Reading is set in Washington filmed in widescreen. The opening shot is birds eye shot satellite footage zooming in on the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The camerawork has many low angles. A point-of-view shot of Chad in the bedroom trying to make his escape. We can see Harry in the mirror on the left side as he takes a shower.” Filmed from a low angle shot Monolo finds the CD repeating, “On the floor there” and “It was just lying there.” The low angle of Monolo adds to the comedy of the moment. The characters are airheaded, but are trying to be serious not realizing how idiotic they really are.

The Coen Brothers’ films are dark in tone as well as visual Minimal light and color creates powerful effects for the theme to be portrayed. No country for Old Men visual details are seen with Chigurh representing fate in background of a shot, while his victim is in the foreground. This is also seen at the beginning of the film as Chigurh walks behind the officer who arrested him and wants to strangle him. As Moss jumps out the hotel window, Chigurh is there in the background, ready to take a shot at Moss. Visual styles of No Country for Old Men is film noir.

Fargo, visually gives a sense of bleak region with the snow and cold in the opening scenes. The horizon is gray taking on a dark mood that sets the tone of evil lurking in the background. The opening shot of Jerry delivering the Sierra. Two parking lots are shot by high angle showing Buscemi stealing license plates and make a ransom transfer but he’s not aware that the fee attendant sees it all.

The Coen brothers are from St. Louis Park, Minnesota hence the midwestern settings of these movies. They produce comedy/drama films with outlandish characters and complicated plots. Elements that are seen throughout are storylines that go unresolved, repeated lines/catchphrases, and oddball characters. John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Frances McDormand, and John Turturro are just a few of the actors the Coen’s rely on. Lines noted in the movies that are repeatedly funny are Brad Pitt’s, “I thought you might be worried about the security of your shit.” He tries to be a bully on his phone call to blackmail the money but it is oxymoronic. Also, when he is describing the CD, “Talking here about department heads and their names and shit. And then there’s these other files that are just, like, numbers. Numbers and dates, numbers, numbers, dates, and i think that’s the shit, man.” Lou repeats “yah”, “oh, and yah” ten times in Fargo while investigating a crime.

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