T R

I have friends who have been pushing me to watch this movie for years. I’ll say it right up front, I’m not a fan of the Cohen brothers! I think Fargo is one of the worst movies ever made. But, I finally gave in and watched it. In short, it’s funny. The humor is subtle which is nice. But the cursing is excessive. It really got in the way of the story for me. Which brings me to the funniest scene in the movie, it’s a cameo by Sam Elliot who sits down at the bar next to Jeff bridges. I won’t write anymore to spoil what happens. I’m glad I watched it, but I won’t be watching it ever again.

I only saw this movie recently after seeing Rick Mayal‘s other work in Blackadder, Bottom, and Catflap. I can’t think of another actor/comedian who turns the crazy up as far as Rick does. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. But be warned, this is not for everyone. Even though he goes over the top, his is the only performance of any depth or professionalism. Phoebe Cates, Marsha Mason, Tim Matheson, Carrie Fisher, and the others have lackluster performances. They act like they just want to get get over and done with. Perhaps it’s because it was filmed in Minnesota. :-) For seasoned actors in an all-star cast, it’s pretty pathetic. The script is very one dimensional. For example, I would like to have seen Phoebe mend her relationship with her mother with Fred’s help. Overall, this is a great concept on many levels. It deals with important issues, but it suffers from a lackluster supporting cast and a poorly written script. All that said, it can be a fun binge watch.