Fargo

Today, I watched a fairly old movie. Fargo it was. The directors; the infamous Coen brothers. These are the same schmucks who directed some of my favorite movies. Fargo was their breakthrough. And today was my first time seeing it. It was brilliant despite being terribly cliche', original in it's story. But it is debateable whether it is worth seeing; mad depressing, and not really funny even though it is listed as a comedy. To be fair, comedy in the classic sense has less to do with "ha hahs" and more to do with irony. The directors' wild use of irony is what gives the film its brilliance. But really it is not that funny. It's sad and pitiful, and ironically it is regrettably non-preachy. It's the first film I have ever seen that I wished to be preached at. But I think this is how they want the viewer to feel. They want us to feel that tension when we view art, not wanting to hear a simple moral sermon but a complicated existentialist message.
With Fargo, what we get is a simple moral message artistically shoved down our throats, leaving us choking on the truth wishing that is wasn't so true. And we as modern Americans are not entertained by such moral cynicism. But the genius of this film, the true originality of this film, is that it is American, it is extremly simple in it's message (though original in its story), and it's message is cynical, and leaves us with a lingering bitterness, and we as optimistic Americans still drink it and swallow it, verbalize our distaste, and ask for another cup. It seems that when we do venture from the suburban middle class world of Americana, we don't actually leave, we just pretend that we're European while the real Europeans snicker at us. But with Fargo, the Coen's have managed to leave America, actually and really, without actually entering any other known territroy, except that in this new land the moral law has not changed, and therefore neither can their message. If Fargo is not original, then it has brought back tragedy. I feel like this would not be welcome. But the Academy Awards that line the hallways of the Coen's home contradict that sentiment. My first reaction to Fargo was that I wished it wasn't so hopelessly sad. Now I understand that this is not the point. Against what I am used to, this film isn't trying to get to think or feel any specific way. It not trying to change anything. It is not trying to make a statment. It is not trying to philosophize. It's a sermon in the form of story. And it's message is one we are all well aware of, but struggle to apply. And we wonder why our lives are so hard? Fargo tells us what we already know with gutwrenching honesty and necessary melodramatics. Fargo tells us that are lives are hard because we make them hard. Stop lying, cheating, and being greedy. It will make our life so much easier. We just don't believe it, do we? No we don't.

Providentially, I ended up reading the book of Proverbs in a cafe this afternoon. Proverbs, like Fargo is unashamedly preachy but with a different literary style. Here is an excerpt of what I read feeling like I was reading the Coen's inspiration. (If you haven't seen Fargo, you should. I didn't want to take up space in this post to explain the plot. I assumed my readers had seen it.) Okay, here is Proverbs 1:10-19

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent
If they say, "Come with us.
Let us lie in wait to shed blood.
Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;
We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,
We shall fill our houses with spoil;
Cast in your lot among us,
Let us all have one purse"-
My son, do not walk in the way with them
Keep your foot from thier path; for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood.
Surely, in vain the net is spread in sight of any bird;
But they lie in wait for their own blood,
They lurk secretly for their own lives.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain

It takes away the life of its owners